OF PAPER AND SMOKE
by Linda Toigo
Of Paper and Smoke is a multi-layered paper cut installation created for children of all ages that describes the perception of Taiwanese spiritual culture through the eyes of a curious wanderer. The large-sized illustrations welcome the viewers into a space of light and contemplation and capture them within their intricate patterns and backlit depth.
The scenes are based on three of the many ceremonies witnessed by the artist during the first days of her residency in south Taiwan:
The Wang-Yeh boat burning in Donggang, where every three years an immense crowd accompany a ceremonial boat and worship the gods asking to carry demons and plague away from the city.
The worshipping of Banyan trees, or Rong-shu, centenarian creatures full of wisdom and tolerance, asked to protect and guide the population. A 300-year-old Banyan tree welcomes travellers in the South of Jiali.
The celebration of Chí Wáng Yé in Hibu, Madou, where mediums possessed and protected by the god, immune to pain, self inflict wounds with ceremonial weapons in a feast of fireworks and thick smoke.
The illustrations have been created mixing traditional Taiwanese paper cutting techniques with a personal contemporary style; the details are inspired by local temple decorations, Taiwanese children books and observation of everyday life.
《剪紙雲煙》
創作人琳達・佗伊果
《剪紙雲煙》以多層紙雕構圖，適合各年齡層孩童，透過一位好奇遊客的眼光，來看台灣神靈文化。
這座大型創作，帶領觀眾進入一個光的空間，在此沈思，從其精細圖樣及背光景深中，悟出箇中奧妙。
此作品靈感來自藝術家初抵南台灣時，見證的三項儀式：
東港燒王船，每三年舉行一次，吸引眾多人潮觀禮，焚燒王船，祈求上天為地方消災解厄。
拜榕樹，這株超過百年歷史的老樹，是智慧及寬容的精神象徵，人們向它膜拜，祈求平安和導引，三百歲老榕樹佇立在佳里南區，對所有遊客張開雙臂。
麻豆海埔池王爺廟會，乩童在神明附身護體下，刀槍不入，慶典煙火四射、黑煙瀰漫。
此創作融合了傳統台灣剪紙工藝及藝術家個人的當代手法，其中細節靈感來源為廟宇裝飾、台灣童書、以及觀察在地日常生活的心得。
Opening: Monday, NOV 23, 2015 at 11am
NOV 25, 2015 – FEB 28, 2016
Soulangh Cultural Park, Studio A9
Jiali District, Tainan, TAIWAN
http://soulangh.tnc.gov.tw/
開幕茶會：2015年11月23日(一) 11:00
展覽期間：2015年11月25日(三) – 2016年2月28日(日)
9:00-17:00（週一、二休館）
展覽地點：蕭壠文化園區A9館（臺南市佳里區六安里 六安130號）
