23.5 °N
Flesh and Bones
Figure studies
Pandanus tectorius is a species of screwpine that is native to Malesia, Papuasia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It grows in the coastal lowlands typically near the edge of the ocean, mainly as the windbreak forest to prevent land desertification. Due to the fact that screw pines are usually planted upon abandoned wasteland and a well-known Taiwanese folklore called “The tragedy of Lintou Jie”, screwpine trees stay in Taiwanese peoples’ mind as a figure of bitterness and melancholy. However the sense of grievance resonates with the ambiguous identity of Taiwan, as I imagine the srewpine tree laying upon a piece of desolate memory, meanwhile blankly staring across the horizon of the pacific ocean, not knowing where to settle down its nostalgic attachment to an anonymous origin.
Flesh and Bones, Traditional Chinese Ink painting on hand-made papers, 20*27cm. 2023
