Artists

Red Babies – Generated from Queries

It is very regretful that there is a distance between the “Red Babies” series and the academic education I have received over the last twenty years. Yet this distance gives me a different perspective of understanding. Besides devoting much time to creation, I still keep on teaching basic sketching classes. I recall that, during the time when there was no breakthrough in my creative works, on the one hand, I was teaching sketching; on the other hand, I asked myself, “What is the use of teaching the skills of sketching to students?” From the eyes of my students, I could clearly see that they asked the same question. In fact, I did not have enough confidence to convince even myself. I could cite other artists’ examples to prove the value of sketching, but deep down my true answer was “I don’t know”. Perhaps the only answer I could get was through the process of creativity myself, thus the “Red Babies” series. If these works rely on the craftsmanship nurtured by the academy in terms of technique, then creation must then spiritually relate to the artistic enlightenment of the academy. Despite this, the theme and method for the purpose of creation, together with the problems that I encounter, are out of the scope of the academy. These processes perhaps mark the distance. Therefore, the problems around creation itself include, not only the answer to the value of sketching, but also relate to another query of creation: the number of female students in my academy has multiplied by folds compared with that in the past; yet, how many would take painting as their profession or life-long career? To my knowledge, the facts are depressing. At the same time, I am also interested in the phenomenon that, like me, they tend to be trapped, not knowing what kind of danger they will stumble upon. Academies do not provide answers for such problems, because they are not considered as problems at all. Logically, only those who encounter problems would try on their own to find answers.

If, through creation, I gain the satisfactory answer that it is worthwhile to learn sketching, there is something more that makes me joyful. Ironically, what drives me to create is solving alone a self-designated issue that relates to my issue of life and death, as well as to the question of whether the academy has inspired my abstract faith in art spiritually for the past twenty years. Besides this, I would like to explore the possibilities of creation that are never clear. This is the problematic and yet exciting state in which I created the “Red Babies” series. What attracted me to work was a doubting wonder, but so was the fear that held me back.

A few days ago, having supper with Chen Yu, we chatted about ‘freedom’. This topic seemed too great. Whilst the image that appeared in my mind was acrobatics, the words “freedom is playing acrobatics” slipped off my tongue. Perhaps, I meant that freedom was a game that people desired but were afraid of playing, rather than meaning that it was a beautiful gift given by nature or other people. What kind of freedom is it for timid people like me? All we have is the confusion of having no freedom, and the fear of having it. Even having to think of what to write in this statement over this couple of days makes me worry. Luckily, Chen Yu reminded me, “Don’t be too serious.” Yes, I am always so serious that it means that I am stuck; so much so, that in a way I forgot the situation in which I began to create the “Red Babies”. If that is a game, then the game is about learning to give up, in order to find answers. Why do I get stuck in the same fear of being shameful in front of others again?

Yu Chen
October 2005