"Series Butterfly Effect": Three Object-Sculpture Works (2020)

Text/Photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang "Series Butterfly Effect" (2020): Three object-sculpture works. Through the appropriation and transformation of readymades (the two small iron sculptures are works by Yang Chiu-hsiang), they explore creative possibilities through large actions reduced to small gestures, continuing to deepen awareness of existence while reflecting my current perception and understanding of life.

"Series Butterfly Effect - The Way of Life": A book on human grand history, topped with a monkey skull, upon which stands a short pink candle, displayed on a small pedestal. Using the skull and candle as symbols of death, it elucidates the way of life; the history book highlights human vanity. The way of life is not merely the process of birth, aging, sickness, and death; existence has its own meaning and value. There is a time for birth and a time for death. Under the illusion of life like dreams, glory and wealth are like floating clouds, and fame and profit are equally illusory. The Avatamsaka Sutra states: "True reality has no form and no difference; ultimately there is no form." I Corinthians states: "The finite shall return to nothingness; only love never ceases." We all understand that where there is life there must be death, yet we cling to life and fear death, ultimately unable to achieve immortality. Grand history is even more illusory; like slot machines, it consists of piles of mass graves. Civilization standing on these mass graves becomes the justification for the strong preying on the weak or seizing power by force. "The Way of Life" intends to penetrate the essence of humanity and the reality of life.

"Series Butterfly Effect - The Desire of Life": A macho, strutting phallus-shaped small iron sculpture humorously wears a transparent plastic candy wrapper crown, tied with painted thin strings. A moth (or colorful butterfly) perches atop it, presenting a poetic scene of bewilderment, constructing an extraordinary surreal object. It transforms magical masculine power into tender warmth; the moth (or butterfly) tames authority and human greed. Because this sensual phallus symbolizes sex, energy, power, desire, patriarchy, and imperialism, this dramatic behavior and attitude attempt to deconstruct myths and authority. The fire of desire burns within life; positive sexuality becomes the driving force for human continuity and the world's endless creativity.

"Series Butterfly Effect - The Dream of Life": An old, time-filled delicate hand sculpture (oil clay), resembling the soft, slender fingers of a pianist. The five fingers lie listless in a row like musical rhythm. On two fingers rests a colorful butterfly, symbolizing youth troubled by long-term illness. Beside it, a purple-blue hair ring encircles a small feather, alongside a pink candle symbolizing life. Life seems but a sigh, a dreamlike reflection of existence. Between dreams and reality, between body and soul, between the real and the illusory, one floats and sinks, transforming in illusions. Life is like a dream, beauty always accompanying hope. Nietzsche said: "Never abandon the hero in your soul who is proud and arrogant."