“The Dream of Yūgen” — Lo Chan-Peng Solo Exhibition
It has been more than half a year since I arrived in Los Angeles. Amid the gaps in language and culture, the silence and anticipation of the art market, and the uncertainty toward the future, I am profoundly grateful to Corey Helford Gallery for providing me the opportunity to present my first solo exhibition in the United States.
Coming from Taiwan to America was not only a journey for my art but also a pursuit toward completing myself.
I intend to speak not of the bustling noise of the world, but rather of those distant, nearly forgotten elements—the memories inscribed within flesh, the remnants of souls, and those fleeting moments suspended between existence and disappearance. These reflect the sum of diverse cultural experiences encountered throughout my artistic journey.
For many Western viewers, "Asia" is often perceived as an indistinct, mixed entity. In contemporary society, culture itself is inherently fluid and chaotic, echoing the essence of Taiwan—the magical island I come from. Having endured numerous colonial administrations and cultural entanglements over the past century, Taiwan has emerged as a key global source of technology (semiconductors). It has thus become a metaphor through which I interpret identity and cultural mobility.
Ⅰ. Pan-Asian Concept: Hybrid Cultural Narratives
Outlines reminiscent of Ukiyo-e, negative space inspired by Chinese ink painting, and the mineral textures of traditional Japanese Iwa-enogu coexist on my canvas. This is not mere cultural collage, but a fundamental questioning of how "Asianness" is perceived. Having experienced multiple colonial histories, Taiwan inherently carries these cultural markers. Through hybridity and fusion, I propose a fluid and non-linear Asian narrative within the Western gaze, highlighting Taiwan’s unique cultural essence.
Ⅱ. Metaphor of the Moon: A Portable Homeland
The subtle appearance of the moon in my paintings is more than just a romantic symbol—it is a locator for those living abroad. In East Asian culture, the moon holds significant emotional resonance, from Li Bai’s classical poem “Lifting my head, I gaze at the bright moon” to Mid-Autumn Festival gatherings among overseas Chinese communities in North America. The moon transcends borders, symbolizing a homeland that can be carried. Although we inhabit different places, we gaze at the same moon.
Ⅲ. Beauty of Yūgen: Between the Seen and Unseen
In Japanese aesthetics, "Yūgen" denotes a profound, subtle beauty, hovering between visibility and invisibility, resonating tranquility. These sentiments are not explicitly stated in my paintings; instead, they subtly permeate layers of color and texture. Through my self-developed technique "Pixel Glazing," I attempt to render a texture that is simultaneously digital and profoundly human—fragile yet sincere.
Ⅳ. Burnt Metal Leaf (Yakihaku): Poetic Alchemy of Fire and Silk
In the world of Eastern painting, Yakihaku (burnt metal leaf) is a deeply spiritual and poetic technique derived from Japanese traditions. By oxidizing silver leaf with sulfur, delicate textures and layers emerge, turning the painting’s surface itself into an integral part of expression, as though time has etched its traces onto the canvas. Artists carefully manipulate heat and sulfur to achieve subtle gradients and scorched traces, subsequently combining them with mineral pigments or ink to construct mysterious, ethereal imagery. Mastery of Yakihaku requires technical precision balanced with patience and intuition. In today’s rapidly evolving art landscape, this method becomes a meditation on silence, impermanence, and the beauty of restraint.
Ⅴ. Humanity and Craftsmanship: Redefining the Human
As AI generates imagery within milliseconds, I choose to respond to this rapid proliferation through multi-day, multi-layered handmade applications of mineral pigments, preserving drips, residues, and the tactile beauty that characterize "the artist’s hand." I firmly believe that, in a future where humanity is continually redefined, Humanity and Craftsmanship will remain the ultimate boundary of what distinguishes us as human.
Opening：SAT July 19 PM 7:00
Exhibition Dates: 2025.07.19 –8.23
COREY HELFORD GALLERY
ALLERY 571 S Anderson St
Los Angeles, CA, United States, California
+1 310-287-2340
For collector previews:
sherri@coreyhelfordgallery.com
