Sam

December 6, 2024, Friday

Today, as part of Art Casual Talks, I visited artist Li Junyang. This was my second meeting with him. During our first encounter, Li was reserved and spoke conservatively, only casually picking up a guitar to play a short piece. However, today, he opened up and shared more, talking about the artists he had collaborated with in the past (to my embarrassment, I had never heard of any of them) and discussing art creation and life.

Unexpectedly, our conversation helped me unravel some of the artistic doubts that have been lingering in my mind. I’ve been searching for the so-called direction of modern and contemporary art. Observing the works I’ve posted on Facebook, Li bluntly pointed out that my current painting style follows the path of a century ago and that I haven’t yet stepped out of traditional frameworks. His words struck a chord, precisely pinpointing my inner confusion.

He went on to share his experiences exhibiting abroad and showed me related video materials, which left me in awe. He had already broken free from conventional notions of materials, while I am still clinging to the old concepts of Western painting and Chinese painting. His approach transforms everyday materials and draws inspiration spontaneously, creating works that are immediate and grounded.

This deeply shook me. I’ve long known that my works lack a truly contemporary edge, but I never realized how far behind I was. It’s only when stepping out into the world that one realizes how vast it is and how many truly exceptional people there are.

241206今天星期五，藝術隨意聊拜訪李俊陽藝術家，和李老師是第二次見面、第一次時李老師說話含蓄保守、只隨性拿起吉他演奏一下。今天話夾子打開，談起過去合作的藝術家（我孤陋寡聞竟然全沒聽過），及談起藝術創作和人生。意外的又幫我解開心中藝術疑惑。我一直在尋找所謂現代、當代及藝術的方向，李老師觀察過我放在FB的作品直說我現在的繪畫是百年前的方向，我尚未走出框架。一語道破我心中疑惑，接著他細說他到國外的展覽經驗，及放著相關的影片資料，我驚嘆不已。他早已打破材料的觀念，而我還守著西畫和國畫的老觀念。他隨時、地都是材料及馬上應變的靈感隨機ㄧ變，作品因應而生並接地氣。我內心再度衝擊，我知道我的作品還不夠當代，但不知落後如此的多。真是走出門才知道世界如此寬大、才能出眾的人如此多。