Chunmao SHIH
The Embrace of Flowers
Ink on paper
72*70 cm
2023
The artwork consists of three pieces forming a series, each composed of two "flower（花）”characters in cursive script. The vermilion flower and theink flower are joined together, creating an embracing harmony known as The Flowery Embrace. Conceptually, the artist incorporates the principles of Yin and Yang, as well as the blending of virtuality and reality, to converge into a state of primordial unity that is perpetually flowing and regenerating. As quoted from Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way), "embrace the One, and the world shall follow suit","Tao" can be seen as the reconciling force of opposing elements. While these elements may appear contrasting, they are, in fact, interdependent at their core. Through its simple yet elegant form, The Flowery Embrace portrays the serene and focused realm of "Tao" in its spiritual sense. Moreover, the shift from red to black in the flowers signifies the lamentation for impermanence, as expressed in the saying, "nothing lasts forever, not even the vibrant blossoming of flowers. " In Ouyang Yong-Shu' s Butterflies in Love with Flowers, the line "with teary eyes I ask of the flowers, yet they remain silent, as petals scatter over the swing "also raises similar questions. Why cannot time linger in moments of beauty? And why does youth fade away irrecoverably? The passage of time and the transience of human existence are inevitable facets of nature's course, yet they also signify the enigma of ceaseless vitality. Ultimately, it depends on the observer' s perspective of the flowers, and how one chooses to navigate their relationship with this world.