Viewpoints 9 Challenge 8

Title of work: Health and Happiness

Theme: Preconceptions 

My Feedback: Different from Our Thoughts 

I attended an exhibition in France in mid May and met many European artists. I found many groups are quite similar to our Viewpoints 9. Some of them use social network for public viewing and some of them don’t, but they have one thing in common, which is the long histories. Some of them even have been lasted for 20 to 30 years. I was stunned by their attitude and spirit of cooperation. It was truly a valuable opportunity of exchanges and I’ve seen diverse insights from them in the world of quilting, including creating styles, discussion, communication, art work publishing, obligation and cooperation between members. There’s a lot I can learned from them.

I’m lucky to have the opportunity to visit different cities and experience various local cultures. During each journey, I often encounter something that is “different from my thoughts”, not only in quilting professions but also in trifling matters of everyday life. I always try to blend in and learned from the local people, but maybe I am not knowledgeable enough, I often feel upset and start complaining. Worst of all, the unsatisfied current situation not only affects my emotion, but also violates my creating and self-learning plans. 

In fall, 2009, I visited Chicago and stayed there for 5 days to enjoy the arts and architecture and so on of this city. The Millennium Park located beside Lake Michigan let me absorb in its cultural and leisure atmosphere. What a great chance for meditation and rethink about those things that I used to complaint about! When I stood in front the tremendous work, Cloud Gate, all of the people and things looked distorted. Both our attitude and the environment keep changing, so if we don’t keep learning and adjust ourselves, maybe the friends around us would see a “distorted” person. The world is always different from our thoughts. Keep learning and accept the fact seems to be the only solution. 

The sudden enlightenment in Chicago helps me a lot in dealing with people and things. Also allows me to adjust myself in a very short period of time in Europe and accept and appreciate diverse groups. Thanks to the previous learning experience that have changed my views. All my best wishes for the future development of Viewpoints 9.

Artist Statement: 

Thank you, Lisa-Marie, for giving us this challenge.

God loves us and let bad things happen in due course, giving us the opportunity to learn from mistakes and live a better life. I learned an important life lesson from a “pain-removing process”. The lines of a varied, adventurous, complicated and challenging life story are imprinted on this quilt. 

The red flowers on the quilt represent happiness and the white flowers represent both physical health and mental health, which not only should be co-existed in harmony, but also the goal for everyone. I hope all my friends are healthy and happy like the red and white flowers.

Everybody knows that health leads to happiness. However, my conception of this idea was reversed. I wished everyone was happy even I had to sacrifice my health. During TIQE2012 (Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition 2012), Sue, Mary and Misik told me that I looked exhausted. That’s true, but I was still keen on accompanying with all the artists till they left Taiwan. In fact, I was facing the crisis of heavy bleeding. Only my husband and daughter knew it, so they shared my works. Until this year, after several visits to Europe, I finally had to do the surgery. My preconception “grew” the tumor up. I am lucky enough to be able to choose the time for surgery. Who has such courage to accept this kind of life crisis? Thanks to my husband and family for the huge and selfless support of my dangerous “experiment”. Thank God for guiding me through this life challenge. I will put health and happiness in my first priority from now on.

This is a story of a stupid adventure. After I overcome my ignorance, this story will “bloom” like bright flowers in this quilt. I’m glad that I still have enough time to sew it after the surgery without delaying the deadline. Everything is going well and I truly appreciated.

I wish everyone healthy and happy forever. 

Materials: silk, cotton, ribbon

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9.blogspot.com/