Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 7

Title of work: Dry Gorge

Theme: Environment and Ecology Picture Book

Artist Statement:

Taroko National Park, situated in the east of the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan and across the LiwuRiver, is facing Pacific Ocean and surrounded by mountains. Water rushing down from the magnificent mountains to the narrow U-shaped gorge, the white gorge is carved into the marble by the erosive power of the LiwuRiver for years. Due to climate change, dry season has extended. The riverbed looks like old cheese.

There is a truss bridge on the hillside. I had strong feelings when I was sewing the truss structure. Standing between the mountains, I observed the subtle feel between the bridge and the mountains and felt the combination of natural and unnatural. The interval between trusses looks differently when you stand in different positions, as if different standpoint affects communication between people. I got lost when I was sewing the truss bridge because I was so keen on making the interval between trusses looked equal. I didn’t believe in what I recorded on the spot, so I spent lots of time readjusting them. I even read several books about it but it only helped me to learn more about bridge structures. Finally, I had to go back to my original design and try to recall what I saw from where I stand there. I realized that people are born with "visual adjustment"; there is nothing to do with the interval between trusses as long as it’s well-constructed. The beautiful combination between the bridge and mountains reminds me of mutual acceptance of shortcomings between people.

We can never learn the big heart that how Nature embraces unnatural structures. I was so ignorant that I tried to make adjustment of the truss bridge arbitrary. Learning opportunity is everywhere and the dryness seems to remind us this philosophy. Thanks to this challenge, it brings me new perspective. Thank you all for supporting this project.

Materials: commercial cottons, woolen yarn

Techniques: 100% hand pieced, hand appliqué, hand quilted. The wool is transplanted into fabrics and made undetachable.

Size: 40 cm x 80 cm

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/