[藝術創作]葉育欣

A Collection of Fruits (Fruit Concerto)

Water-colour

Yu-hsin,Yeh

52 x 37 cm

2001

Yu-hsin Yeh was born in Taitung. In elementary school, she was very interested in art and creativity. She was profoundly influenced by Ding-I chen who enlightened her into the secrets of his art.After elementary school, Yeh was accepted to train in the Art department of the Hsin Cheng Junior High School. During high school, Yeh was top of her class producing more Artworks than anyone else.
Ever since she was a child, she has taken part in many Exhibitions including the National Student Art Exhibition and the Exhibition for Artists.
This picture is one of Yeh’s creations during high school. Although she was not good at music, she longed to express her passion for it through Art and constructed a musical sequence out of colour. Using five kinds of fruit – Kiwi, Peach, Watermelon, Orange and Grapes, Yeh skillfully used their distinctive characteristics to present the rhythm of life. The smooth lines denote dancing musical notes. Why does music have to be heard? Can it not be imagined? Fruits are the media that connect hearing and seeing. Their curves and colours are like salt and spice which activates a new life.
Yeh uses five fruits that have an association with the five components of the Symphony Orchestra, Rock Band and Traditional Chinese Music. In the Symphony Orchestra, the five divisions are conductor, Wind & Brass, strings, Keyboard and Percussion. In a Rock Band, there are five components – vocalist, guitar, Bass, Keyboard and Drums. In traditional Chinese music there are five tones of the pentatonic scale – Gong, Shang, Jue, Jih and Yu (the tones C, D, E, G & A).
The creation in the top left-hand corner is taken from the kiwi. The felt-like membrane is similar to the Shang that represents vibrant melody. Cutting open the kiwi, the regular seeds and orderly fibres can be easily observed. These resemble the keyboard in the Band and Symphony.
The portrait in the top middle is derived from the Peach. The pink and smooth outside consists of a hard kernel that takes After the Jue – all smooth and mild. It is like the Bass line that supports the melody.
In the top, right-hand corner, the Watermelon containing a green peel and juicy flesh is characterized by its heavy weight. It is like the vigorous gong. It also represents the vocalist – the Soul of the band.
In the bottom, left-hand is orange. We open the peel in cyclic annular and see clearly the regular flesh. It is like the music staff and the five strings on the guitar. It symbolizes the continuous music and fluent melody- Yu.
In the bottom right-hand corner is the grape. It is a fruit from western parts. The weather in western Asia is hot. This is represented by the Zheng in Chinese Traditional Music. The tiny pips are like the rhythm from the percussion instruments and drums.
As far as the materials are concerned, the main colour is the opaque watercolour which is painted on the Arches paper. Why does Yeh use opaque watercolour? It is because it expresses mainly the solid and modern sense of fruit. It is heavy enough to fit into practice. Also the texture is so tiny that we can draw on it without any side-effects.
It is worth mentioning that you can see the work from any direction. This is different from the traditional way with its many restrictions. It is a special creation.
The background music is the Carpenters: ‘They long to be close to you’. The lively tempo acts in cooperation with the jumping musical notes. The words of the4 song reveal the thirst for learning like the approaching of birds. Yeh uses her art in response to music that is a compensation, a comfort and a sense of deep satisfaction.