Etan Pavavalung (1963)

Mixed Media

2015

Length:60 x Width:100 (cm)

In 2009, Typhoon Morakot brought destruction and disaster to Pavavalung's hometown. The residents of his community were forced to move into permanent housing built for them at lower elevations. This has led to a sense of longing among the elders, who say "The breezes in the mountains are very fragrant". This inspired Pavavalung to develop his innovative art form "trace, layer, carve, paint". In this work, the subject is Taiwan's endemic lily. Although it has been bent by strong winds, it still expresses a strong vitality. In this funnel-shaped flower, the ancestral eye is revealed. This is a symbol of the need for the Paiwan people to co-exist with the land harmoniously following this natural disaster.
Pavavalung is both an artist and a poet. Through his innovative visual art form of "trace, layer, carve, paint" he depicts the pain and suffering to his community caused by a typhoon. Although he does not directly portray disaster scenes, obervers are able to perceive the vitality of the Paiwan people as they seek to survive and recover. Art critic Huang Hai-Ming once said that, "Etan Pavavalung's works present the visual culture of indigenous art, and combine the traditional and innovative. Especially in his depictions of nature, he expresses his sincere emotional connection to the land."

Accession Number:E0012