Lantern Flower and the Memory of Old Taiwan

Portuguese tile painting possesses a long and profound artistic tradition. Its creative form differs from flat painting, requiring precise composition and delicate arrangement within the small space of a tile. The works in this exhibition are completed by assembling 25 tiles. Through the continuous connection of colors and images, they present a unique visual rhythm, guiding visitors to savor the artistic charm from a foreign land.

◎ Creating Artist: Teacher Chen Ying-chieh (陳映潔)
◎ Work Title: Lantern Flower and the Memory of Old Taiwan
◎ Creative Concept: The lantern flower (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a memory from my childhood. To me, it was the most rustic flower imaginable. When I was little, my mother would take me for walks along the field ridges, passing through low, brick-red farmhouses, with rows of fences formed by lantern flowers—it was a very beautiful memory. The red brick walls of childhood form the frame of this work. The composition is made up of lantern flowers, from the early single-petal varieties to the various improved multi-colored and double-petal ones of recent times, akin to walking from old Taiwan to new Taiwan. Despite the changes of the times, what remains deeply rooted in our hearts is still that identification with the land, just like the original Taiwanese stained-glass green floral window at the heart of the painting, simple and eternal.
◎ Medium: Portuguese Tiles