Love‧Fantasy –Lai Mei-hus Solo Exhibition
Exhibition： 2016.01.07-2016.02.25
Opening Reception： 2016/1/9 14:30
“I rarely use words to express my thoughts, painting is the tool to I use to express my ideas and thinking.” Lai Mai-Hua states the purpose of her artistic concept from the very beginning. Actually, there are many more ideas in her sensitive mind. She has long been used to recording her daily experiences through painting. Flowers, a passing cloud, a new moon, the ocean, music, literature and indeed any lovely things in the life can all inspire her to create. To become an artist capable of expressing beauty was her ambition from childhood, thus, flower, leaf, seed, eye … natural features appear throughout her work as creative elements, painted in delicate brushstrokes and gentle lines, and containing many shades of colour.
Lai´s works are full emotion and imagination, with influences from feminism and expression of the subconscious mind through surrealism; thus the composition of her paintings is bright, vivid, varied, and vibrantly-coloured. These come together to create a strongly individual character, which sets out Lai´s passion for life and leaves the viewer affected with a fierce tension. In her work, flowers, masks, human figures and animals are often interweaved closely, laid out in a way to suggest a sexual meaning.
“I don´t mind people thinking my painting symbolise sex” Lai said, “Sex is a big deal for human beings, sex is a kind of naturalness.” Art critic Lu Yung-Chi recognises Lai as significant in Taiwanese native feminism: “Lai´s feminism originates in her instinct of conscientious initiation, not as part of a trend or a movement of ideology. It looks like it is not very theoretical, but just because of that, the artist comes across as more righteous and bold.” Above all Lai´s work is full with emotion and feminine delicacy, which expresses her thoughts and feelings about being and existence; on some occasions it shows surpassing beauty, on others it unveils a fearful secrecy. It touches a chord with the viewer.
