The exploration of life includes various aspects, such as discovery of one's self, spiritual identification, construction of values, pursuit of meanings…etc. Therefore, life's exploration should comprise of different experiences and experiments. Candid Erotica: Amorous Paintings displays the artworks by York Hsiao, who fully dedicates his life to artistic creation in recent years and possesses much knowledge about Taiwanese and foreign art. Hsiao adopts a unique perspective to observe and portray human erotica, delineating his theme from three aspects that are "abstract symbols," "earthly depiction," and "natural landscape," all together expressing his experimental spirit in multifaceted exploration and diverse expression.
Through his depiction of the three aspects, Hsiao presents an artistic trilogy that displays his interpretation of human desire in three series. The Truthfulness series that features abstract symbols incorporates an amalgamation of text and image as well as a sense of word play embodied by the homonymic sounds of idioms. Through a playful approach, the series candidly and truthfully releases the suppressed amorous thoughts, desires and human nature. The Sexuality series features the theme of "earthly depiction," treating and portraying sex in this world as part of nature's cycle. The sweet, gentle style of the series uses individual behaviors as a metaphor for social scenarios. The Feelings series comprises of Hsiao's landscapes depicted with concrete images in a realistic style. The artist intentionally incorporates and contextualizes images of male and female sexual organs in natural landscape, conveying his praise and reverence for nature's original vitality as well as how nature can tangibly stimulate and intangibly incite human desires and actions.
In this solo exhibition, the artist displays his three types of paintings at the same time. In terms of exhibition layout and traffic flow, he designs to let visitors pass through different entrances, guiding them into three spaces of respective ambience. Through reading paintings, penetrating spaces, prying into secrets, and playful interactiveness, audience can appreciate Hsiao's artistic creations of different media and forms. As reflected by the exhibition title:
The exhibition reveals the artistic journey of an amorist; because of his Truthfulness, he is not suppressing or camouflaging his desire.
The exhibition demonstrates an artist's amorous paintings; as propelling Sexuality permits, his works are candid and unpretentious.
The exhibition offers a chance to admire these candid paintings; for the resonance of human feelings, these paintings should be shared with all.
Candid Erotica: Amorous Paintings represents the artist's diachronic artistic achievements of self-assigned topics. It simultaneously demonstrates the various layers of Hsiao's art as well as the true color and nature of humanity. Viewing the exhibition is indeed a splendid journey of experimental spirit.