Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 4) Challenge 3

Title of work: Passion Flower

Theme: Time

My Feedback: The Eternal Guardian

Completed in 2009, the statue of the goddess Mazu is 28.8 meters tall. It is made of granite, which symbolize to protect the islanders forever. The word, eternal, means lasting forever or for a very long time, without an end. Mazu is worshipped as a goddess of the sea and the protector of fishermen and sailors. She is known and loved by millions in Asia. She is one of the most popular goddess in Taiwan, also known as the patron saint of Taiwan.

The statue is located in Nangan, a small fishing village in the MatsuIslands, an archipelago of 36 islands and islets in the northern Taiwan Strait. The region experiences subtropical marine climate. It is cold and wet in winter and foggy in spring and summer. Sometimes the thickness of advection fog can be up to 700 or 800 meters. Most of the local residents make a living from fishing. They need the spiritual guardian, Mazu, to live forever in their hearts and let them live safe and sound. The religious belief has passed down from generation to generation. The local residents are very conservative, which can be seen in their living environment and lifestyle. The MatsuIslands is named after their guardian, Mazu.

When I first visited Nangan, I was fascinated by the environment. There is not much modern construction. 95% of the buildings are made of local stones. They use eco-friendly daily necessities. Not surprisingly, out-migration is a problem and most of the residents are the elderly. Without economic vitality, there is less pollution. It is a beautiful secluded place. Tourists only come to visit the place on sunny days.

Artist Statement:

Passion flower, a timepiece of the natural world. The blooming flower reminds people of the face of a clock. The central stamens and stigmas resembling the hour hand, minute hand and second hand. It looks beautiful and amazing. I love this summer plant. Passion fruits are good refreshment on summer days. The evergreen climbing plant also serves as a sheltered spot during summer. It is an honor to take the challenge to hand-sewn the special structure. In Japan, passion flowers are known as tokeiso, meaning clock plant. What an interesting plant!

It is one of my mother’s favorite plants. It can be found in her garden throughout the year. In order to make it come alive in my work, I keep sewing and unsewing the petals for several times. Strangely enough, the setbacks always bring me innovations. I tried many techniques for the first time and therefore it took longer than expected. I must have underestimated the challenge, but I like this learning by doing. Thank you, Alicia, for the topic. I have learned so much during the creative process. I hope you all enjoy the flower!

Materials: artist’s hand-dyed fabric, commercial cottons, silk, linen, linen thread, embroidery thread, Romanian thread

Techniques: hand pieced, hand appliquéd, hand quilted, hand embroidered, crocheted

Size: 18” x 36”

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