User:Chen Junyu/Graduation Project Seminar/ project proposal/2ed

1st

I built my hut in a zone of human habitation,

Yet near me there sounds no noise of horse or coach,

Would you know how that is possible?

A heart that is distant creates a wilderness round it.

I pluck chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge,

Then gaze long at the distant summer hills.

The mountain air is fresh at the dusk of day;

The flying birds two by two return.

In these things there lies a deep meaning;

Yet when we would express it, words suddenly fail us. (Translated by Arthur Waley)

It is a poetry describes the aspiration to nature by Tao Yuanming (365–427) from Eastern Jin Dynasty. And there is more than just "describing the aspiration to nature" in this poem. It is also a poem which is know The "more" here, is what I want to say through all my works.

Language can never express the truth. It can linger around at the door of truth. However, since we started to use words to interpret ourselves, we already lost the key to the door. Language has the limitation of vacabulary, the potential pressure from environment, the influence by the other side of the conversation. That is why we need art. Poem is not just language, it breaks the structure of language, and talks the reflection of heart.

The accuracy of the expression by art pieces, is oriented by our craft to use medium and our honesty to heart. And I believe the precisely interpretation of the "truth" is existed.

I don't want to stuck in one material or element any more, since during the exploration of my project, I feel try to focusing on single topic is setting the boarder before starting. all of these try-outs are made for reaching the final stage. Then, what is the final stage? I fail to answer this question by words. I will try to describe more later, do not set the boarder, instead, write down the points which delight me during the process of making it.

What I want to do seems not so related with process art. Process is the thing whatever would happen some time. I doesn't mean the physical process of making something is not important, physically, the making process builds up our work, the amounts of import influences the final result of our work. However, from the other aspects (more important aspect), process is not the future or the past, process is "right now". The moment we can only enjoy "right now".

The value of an art work, at the moment of finishing, already lost the most important part. The process of doing, is the conversation between author and work. (concept in Drawing,quote later) Appreciating a painting is the process of scanning the painter's spiritual activity, and is rarely possible to get the fully meaning of a painting by a viewer. The art work cannot present who the artist is, but it can express what the artist's desire looks like. When the moment of finishing arrives, the conversation ends, only echo left on the blank canvas.

And "the echo" left on the canvas, is exactly what the poem says: In these things there lies a deep meaning; Yet when we would express it, words suddenly fail us. It is the meaning which we fail to convey by words.

It is also why Chinese philosophy never try to use clear and strict words and sentences to describe and define the concept and thought that those philosophy wants to say. They always linger outside the door, since they know by words they can never open it. Students learn thoughts of their teacher, not just by speeches and conversation, also by the the personality and attitude to life expressed by the teacher in daily life.

2ed

Medium is important.