Taiwan March Notes – Giving Paintings a New Look

Text and Images / Chen Chi-Hsiang

As the cold winter steps gradually fade away, the earth awakens. In the new spring when all things are renewed, everything is full of vitality, and the school’s new semester begins. This March was particularly busy because mid-next month marks the time when migratory birds return to Paris. Thus, I simultaneously undertook various tasks. Continuing from February, I refined my 2008 painting series, adding elements one by one. By incorporating mirror-like imagery into the play of light and shadow, the illusion of "flowers in mirrors and the moon in water" transformed into the "Dream within a Dream" series. This added richness and mystery to the compositions, injecting an invisible element that remains unspoken—understood only through intuition, beyond words.

During scattered gaps in March, I progressed slowly and intermittently, leaving footprints step by step. There is no gain without effort. Painting serves as the best rhythm for cultivating character and nurturing the mind; it can be called both work and spiritual practice. Thanks to this dedication, I finally completed the refinements by the end of March according to the schedule.