Artist Statements
 

 

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Artist Statement - Taiwan '03
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The potential of life is boundless and anything is possible. So which to manifest of all the myriad possibilities? I embarked on long a journey, both internal and external, since leaving Canada in 1995 to seek the essential in the inner and outer world, and to manifest creativity with wider inspiration and fewer limitations. This journey has lead to extended periods of time living, working, studying and creating in Malaysia, India, Korea, Japan and now Taiwan.

This small island maintains an ambiguous situation in the world. A modern and rapidly developing culture in flux, set amongst sublime natural wonders of mountains, forest and ocean. Access to some of the world's greatest cultural achievements from the Palace Museum collection, and many living masters of traditional Chinese arts. These express a most profound understanding of our relation to the world and beyond.

However quaint it may seem, it has been possible to recreate a version of the classical Chinese ideal of the scholar artist. Working part-time as a consultant for the Republic of China government, all free time has been devoted to in-depth study of the Dao De Jing, and other ancient classics, writing poetry and essays, calligraphy and ink paintings, seal carving and quietly studying the beauty of Nature.

Much artwork has been created since departing my homeland, most of it in the form of contemporary western-style, conceptual installation art. But now, after many years of study, I hope to share a small collection of some more delicate studies of Nature in the form of eastern-inspired paintings and poetry - for the first time ever. It is sincerely hoped that the patient viewer may discover something of value or interest in these modest works.

 

Taipei, 4/03

 

 

 
Contact © Andrew Owen 1980-2007