This piece is an extension from my earlier works which shows reveal my fascination on irregularly-shaped forms. This series of works are inspired by the beautiful lines which are formed upon the crash of sea waves on the shore. When the irregularly-shaped forms meet the canvas, a crack emerges between the image and the object as it existed at the time of the imaging event. As we look closer at the crack between knowledge and experience, we may discover that some organism seems to be slowly expanding to fill the crack, and eventually penetrates into the image. In other words, by seemingly filling up the crack, this organism is, in effect, slowly collapsing the whole picture. One important step of this painting is that I repeatedly smear the margin areas of the painting with colors similar to the background image. When the piece is nearly 80% completed, I then begin to make random dots around the edge of the painting, in order to give the painting a consistent atmosphere. The Waves is also an extension from another series, which is inspired by the concept of “splendid decadence” and expresses my sense of fear and anxiety for the uncertain future. “Splendor” is one way of describing our contemporary life which thrives on our endless fear for the future. We humans are emotionally nurtured by memories. However, the more we look into memories in search for self-images, the more we realize that the past is drifting further and further away from us, and the only reality we can get hold of is the weight and warmth of the present. Fear of loss thus comes to occupy our consciousness and define our life. In our urban civilization, we tend to conceal our fears for the future by keeping up a splendid appearance. Once we stop envisioning the future, we have no other way but living in the moment and, at the same time, fill in our hollow consumerist lives with as many useless luxury items as possible, so that our decadent bodies continually have something to hang on to. But sooner or later, I will bravely walk away from this decayed body. Our life is filled with as much despair as it is with splendor. In fact, the splendid and extravagant exterior only indicates the emptiness of our souls. Or, we just want to enjoy the luxury of despair amid the splendid atmosphere. Because at the end of the day, the best we can do is to seize the moment of absolute existance and stop thinking about future. This is what we all believe, that a new life will eventually emerge from the decay. (Wu Yung Chieh)