Intersecting Lights — A Meeting of Oriental and Occidental Radiance

From Taipei and Kyoto to Paris: An Artistic Practice Distinct from Verbalization

Two artists with deep ties to France, Vanzoï Lin and Shinya Yamamoto, create works that stand apart from the prevailing trends of verbalization and concept-first approaches in contemporary art.

Vanzoï Lin’s overglaze porcelain encapsulates a profound history of cultural exchange, delving into the visual archaeology of "what to paint" while demonstrating an ultimate pursuit of technical and historical research. He deconstructs and reorganizes Rococo motifs from the Sèvres porcelain manufactory alongside 18th-century Eurasian trade symbols, such as those from Meissen, Lowestoft, and even Qianlong-era Canton Famille Rose. His porcelain works serve as a visual re-manifestation of the archaeology of cultural memory.

Shinya Yamamoto’s paintings focus on a pure material exploration of "how to paint". Through his "My Squares" series, he offers a reflection on the "concept-first" movement that has dominated the art world since Marcel Duchamp. While using the rational square as an inevitable framework, he embraces countless "accidents" created through the layering and application of oil paint. For Yamamoto, painting should transcend the "gray matter" of cerebral thought and directly stimulate the viewer’s senses. This represents a return to the very essence of materiality and the inherent power of the act of painting.

Though departing from different paths, one dedicated to the depth of "what to paint" and the other to the act of "how to paint”, both artists rediscover the power of the artwork as a physical presence through the refraction of light.

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Daily Glimmers: Frameworks from Observation to Perception

Light is ordinary in daily life, yet through the artist’s translation, it becomes a cultural tapestry. Cao Xuan uses delicate oil painting to capture the gentle companionship of a Seven-Eleven sign in the night. Enmo Lin explores the philosophy of light-shadow symbiosis through Chasing the Light’s Shadow, viewing the shadow as a witness to light; only together do they achieve a complete life. Phyllis Chua, with her background in anthropology, observes the abundance of life by translating hand-drawn textures into digital expansions on canvas, creating works that symbolize the mind’s freedom beyond linear time and the regeneration of vitality. Lin Wen-hsuan employs mirror-like materials and architectural vistas to invite viewers to recognize the relationship between their own image and reality amidst the interplay of realism and blurred forms. Tzu Yi Wang’s brushwork dances between whimsical picture-book innocence and classical strokes, cleverly juxtaposing the traditional Oriental symbol of the "Qipao" with a fantastical world. Finally, New York-based Mr. Likey reinterprets pop icons in Snoopy Brown, humorously capturing the phenomenon of pets growing to resemble their owners through a hybrid character of master and companion.

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The Radiance of the Universe and Life’s Tempering

This section focuses on how light transforms into inner flow and healing energy, exploring the colors of life after being tempered by experience. Paulina (Pui Ling) leads us into the fantastical world of Ebru marbling. The ripples of water and the vivid movements of hand-painted goldfish symbolize the unceasing flow of life energy, transforming this ancient art into a contemporary therapeutic light. Emmy Chen uses blue as the primary color of light, turning personal experience into a diamond-like, steadfast radiance. KUO3 (Kuo San) regards creation as proof of existence, manifesting spiritual strength within the silence of Good Luck Tree. Tinting’s work carries the memory of her mother, conveying a warm healing message that love remains. Sophie Wu relies on intuition to explore various media, capturing raw and curious inspiration from the forest and the natural world.

Intersecting Lights is a feast where multiple perceptions meet. From 18th-century craft nostalgia and the captured moments of Kyoto gold leaf to the neon of modern cities and the exploration of the inner universe, these artists have woven a web of meaning that spans time and space. Here, the subtle shadows of the East and the clear light of the West reflect one another, inviting us to redefine the possibilities of beauty at the moment of their intersection.

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Vernissage: Feb 5th: 17:00 – 20:00

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Public Viewing Hours:

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Feb 5th: 14:00 – 17:00

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Feb 6th – 8th: 14:00 – 18:00

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Feb 10th: 14:00 – 17:00

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(Closed on Monday, Feb 9th)

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Galerie Mona Lisa 32 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France

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