Painting and the Football Match
"Painting" as the alchemy of one's own existence.
Text/Photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Whenever I have time in Paris, I enter my private creative garden to continue expanding the crystalline "Mirror Surface" series. Shuttling through mirrors, I enter the realm of painting, conversing with the present moment; "painting" serves as the alchemy of my own existence. In recent years, I have specifically chosen to create portraits formed from multiple fragmented crystals, challenging my willpower. This requires calmness, meticulousness, concentration, patience, and single-minded focus, entering a world of contemplative meditation where painting demands physical strength and endurance. It is not about painting for any specific purpose; rather, it follows the rhythm of life. When free, I can paint a little every day, but progress is slow. There is no rush to express or unfold; whether slow work yields fine results is irrelevant. The enjoyment lies in the act of creation itself, immersed in the atmosphere of painting.
The quadrennial European Championship football tournament happened to be held in France starting mid-June. Although I am not a football fan and lack such madness for the sport, I appreciate the artistry of football. With stars gathering for this European Cup, it is fascinating, much like art, making me selectively watch matches. Painting and the football match coincidentally met; during this period, I painted all day long, feeling joyful and lively. After dinner, I would sit before the TV, watching an exciting match with great pleasure.
This year, the social climate in France was strange, permeated with unease: the shadow of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and strikes caused by labor law changes, and so on. During the European Cup, amidst strikes and security concerns, France found itself in a difficult situation. However, once the matches began, the entire social lens instantly focused on the football, turning into a carnival-like atmosphere. Flags of various European nations hung from windowsills on streets and alleys; cafes, bars, and restaurants welcomed customers with large screens. Crowds often gathered to watch games, suppressing social dissatisfaction with discussions centered entirely on football. Society placed its hopes on the French national team. Fortunately, the underdog French team continuously defeated several smaller teams (Albania and Ireland) at their feet, bringing society to a peak of excitement. Riding this momentum, the host nation crushed Europe's strongest team, Germany, in the semifinals, advancing proudly to the final. They enthusiastically faced Portugal in a fierce battle with intense ups and downs. The match ended 5-5 after extra time, but Portugal won 1-0 in the penalty shootout, extinguishing the hosts' dream. Winning and losing are normal matters. Football allows people to temporarily forget everything, uplifting spirits and providing wonderful times. Security during the European Union period was successful, allowing French society to breathe a sigh of relief and officially opening the summer vacation season.