ah-yi

Princess Kavalan

01 waves



02 sea forest








First, I want to say thank you! my friends. Thank you for stopping by last Saturday, also thank you for the flowers!!

Second, I would like to share some stories about the prints i made for this art show.
At the very beginning when I just started to work on the sketches, I wanted to do a children story book. I did a lot of research about the Chinese children stories. I talked to my friends and sisters in Taiwan and asked them which story is their favorite. I couldn't make up my mind to decide on which story to pick till Chihlung told me the story of " Pricess Kavalan". It's a Taiwanese aboriginal story! I immediately drawn to this story. It's so fascinating!! When i found this story it was 6 weeks before the show I realized that I won't be able to make a children book. I didn't want to give up on this story so I started to do a lot of the sketches based on this story
When I developed these sketches/setting at the same time I did a lot of abtract objects sketches. I have no idea where were those objects come from. They are like human tools, utensils. Something like mirror, hair comb,...etc. Then I had two totally different themes of sketches. This was 3 weeks before the show and also I got an email from Mylissa, gallery manager, asking me to give her the statement and Bio. There were more than 3 days I was struggling about the themes and statements. I wrote two different statements.....but at the end I settled for the story of " Pricess Kavalan". I hate writing but I had to say it's very helpful. Everything became very clear. After I finished the statement it's like a fresh start for me.
Below it's a short version of "Pricess Kavalan" ( my friend, Sean helped me to rewrite the story, thank you! Sean)

Pricess Kavalan, the only daughter of the Dragon King of the Esat Sea, and her forbidden romance with the Turtle General Lusheng. When the two eloped to land, the king followed with his crab and shrimp army and turned Lusheng and their son, Heping, into islands using his magic staff. Hearbroken, Kavakan used magical green pearl to transform herself into the fertil Lanyang Plain, and the frequet rains there are her tears when she thinks of her husband. Her regretful father dropped his staff which beames Jinmian Mountain and he fell and became the mountain range surrounding the Plain, never return to the East Sea.

For me, this is not really a love story between the pricess and the General but it's the love for the nature and the love for the lands and ocean where we live in.
(*Kavalan was one of the tribe living in Taiwan Island before Chinese immigrated to the island. All the islands and the Plain in the story are existing in the real world.)

Will come back to share more later!
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