Sam

I’m not particularly fond of competitions, because throughout my journey in painting, I’ve heard too many stories of disputes and controversies. In 2024, after being selected for the Huludun Artist Relay Exhibition, I also began teaching at the Dadun Cultural Center. My mentor encouraged me to participate in competitions to build my credentials.

This year, during my creative process, I started from my own self-portrait and extended it into a meditation on my thoughts. I felt quite satisfied with the result, so I decided to submit this piece to the Taiyang Art Exhibition. Although it was only a No. 30 canvas, I still chose to take part. For a long time, I didn’t receive any news about the results, and I assumed there was little hope. I recalled my teacher’s words—that competitions are meant to train one’s attitude toward gain and loss—so I gradually let it go.

Later, a friend messaged me to tell me that I had received an Excellence Award. Of course, I was overjoyed. However, I chose to remain low-key. It is enough to affirm my own ability; more importantly, I do not want to lose sight of my original intention in painting.

我不太喜歡比賽因為在整個畫畫歷程中，聽聞過太多的事事非非。2024年我獲得葫蘆墩藝術家接力展後，又到大墩文化中心教學。我的恩師希望我參加比賽增加自己的資歷。今年在創作的時候，我以自我的畫像去延伸思考創作了這一幅思緒的冥想後，自認為感覺還不錯就決定以這幅參加台陽美展比賽，雖然這幅只是30號。然而一直沒有收到比賽成績的訊息，本以為已經沒什麼希望，就想起老師說的比賽是要練自己的得失心，自己也就放下了。後來朋友傳訊息給我告知獲得優選獎。心中當然欣喜萬分。不過我選擇以低調為原則，證實自己的實力就夠了。不要迷失自己原來畫畫的初衷為原則。