Spring Appointment with Teacher Chen in Taipei and the Artists' Spring Banquet

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang

Every year as winter departs and spring arrives, the earth awakens. The park treetops are full of vitality, and the colorful golden maple leaves scatter brilliantly along the riverbank. Spring light leaks out, dazzling and radiant; nature sings its heartfelt song, making it seem that time moves rapidly alongside the flowers and grass. It is once again when I, a migratory bird, am about to return to my nest. Days feel like they pass particularly quickly; the days spent running north and south slip away unnoticed in the blink of an eye.

Last week was particularly fulfilling. Three lectures and sharing sessions in one week kept me spinning around. In a very planned manner, I traveled from north to south and returned to the starting point. As part of my preparation for returning to Paris each year, I interview three to four artists to take back for writing (continuing to help write special exhibition introductions for Taiwan's Yanshire literary region, now entering its fifth year). On Monday, I went north to interview young artist Zhang Zhong-Liang. The interview lasted the entire afternoon. Listening attentively, every interview with an artist allows me to deepen my understanding and learning. It not only becomes first-hand material for my writing but also witnesses the artist's creative space and their insights into art and life, giving me the opportunity to glimpse the artist's true nature.

The next day was fulfillment within fulfillment. Early in the morning, I went to give a lecture at the National Taipei University of Education. My junior fellow student, Xiao Mei-Ling, invited me to share with her graduate students about the entire year's exhibitions at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2014). Starting with Swiss artist Thomas Hirschhorn's spatial installation "Eternal Flame" from the exhibition "State of Climate," the exhibition became a platform for pluralistic discourse, elaborating on various political, economic, cultural, and social issues under globalization. Until the recently concluded group exhibition "Inside," which showcased contemporary contexts with diverse perspectives. Systematically introducing the core, discourse, and characteristics of each exhibition, one can imagine that general students were completely confused. Clearly, this was not what concerned them. Paris is too far from Taipei; at least the distant monk striking a bell opens a ray of light. Could it awaken the students' curiosity?

After class, Meiling and I kept our appointment with the "Chen Shih-Ming Fan Club" for a dinner gathering with our mentor, Teacher Chen Shih-Ming. We went together to the Purple Vine Pavilion in Taipei, a Japanese-style old house full of artistic and literary atmosphere. We were seated in an independent space on tatami mats, forming a circle with the kind-hearted Teacher Chen. More than ten senior and junior colleagues from the first to the eighteenth batches gathered together, resembling a family. We continued to share views on art with the teacher. The teacher pointed out the current dilemmas of art and carefully analyzed the viewpoints of the artists and students present. Everyone listened attentively. Spirituality has always been a life issue we explored together. To have a teacher who tirelessly offers reminders and teachings after graduation is truly something to be grateful for.

Every appointment with Teacher Chen brings endless joy. Until evening, I left with Lian-Lian and Xian-Jun at Lian-Lian's invitation to the "Carnival Spring Banquet" (in Dazhi). With lanterns lit and drizzle falling, Taipei appeared even more charming. We first met at the gallery and with Yu-Zai (Xu Yu-Ren) and other artists, then followed everyone to a magnificent large dining hall, where we learned it was the Carnival Gallery's grand annual banquet (over twenty tables). Artists, collectors, art scholars, and entrepreneurs gathered, many of whom were members of Rotary International. We felt the gallery's current business methods and ambitious intentions. The front tables featured well-known artists (such as famous photographer Ke Xi-Jie and sculptor Li Guang-Yu) and art scholars (such as Wang Zhe-Xiong), witnessing the gallery owner's broad networking skills. Our table consisted almost entirely of familiar artist friends (Su Guo-Qing, Zeng Yong-Ning, Shi Gong-Zhong-Hao, Lin Xian-Jun, Xu Yu-Ren, Lian-Lian, etc.). Enjoying the spring banquet with wine, under jazz music and casual programs, I witnessed the joy of the Taipei art scene and human life. I originally intended to return to Chiayi around eight o'clock, but forgot the time amidst the festive atmosphere of the spring banquet. Late at night, I stayed overnight at artist Zeng Yong-Ning's home in Guandu and chatted with him until dawn about Taiwanese art. Goodnight.