Multitude of Praises for Artist Wen-Jung Hsu’s “Ox” Paintings
The Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch located at Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Temple South Island has been holding the After A Thousand Miles-Wen-Jung Hsu's World Tour Exhibition since 9th January 2021. The exhibits on display at the Exhibition include sculptures, abstract paintings and a series of paintings on “Ox”. At the Gallery, the visitors were gifted with this year's New Year couplets by Master Hsing Yun, "Cultivate a Heart That Blooms in All Seasons". After learning that the words of the couplets and the subjects in the paintings were mostly related to Ox, the Zodiac sign of the New Year, the visitors were awestruck by Venerable Master Hsing Yun and Artist Hsu’s painstaking efforts in the promotion of Art and Buddhism.
In conjunction with the arrival of the Lunar New Year, the Gallery staff introduced the Chinese Zodiac Culture to the local visitors. After learning that this year is the Year of the “Ox”, some visitors jumped with excitement because they happened to be born in the Year of the “Ox”, and because of this coincidence, they happily took photos with the “Ox” series of Paintings. The After A Thousand Miles Exhibition not only allowed the visitors the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of art, but also to learn about the beautiful traditions of the Chinese culture.
Michelle Taylor, a visitor from Kaikoura South Island, always visits FGY Art Gallery Christchurch whenever she comes to Christchurch. During her present visit to the After A Thousand Miles Exhibition, Michelle was greatly impressed with the “Ox” series of paintings, especially the one named "Mother and Daughter", to which she was able to develop a mother-daughter feeling of closeness. Luke, a young New Zealander currently studying in the Department of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington, likes to paint. He too admired the “Ox” series of paintings when he visited the After A Thousand Miles Exhibition. In particular, he loved the lines on the Ox's body which were beautifully drawn, resembling the flowing water of a river, so soft and natural.
New Zealander Paul Cavanagh, and Tony Crichton from the Island of Samoa, were deeply interested in the "Feast at Swan Goose Gate" painting. They stayed for a long time in front of the painting to study the meaning of its composition, and the cultural custom and the back-ground wordings of the painting. Elizabeth Holmes, a young New Zealander, was deeply attracted by the "Spring Comes and Spring Goes" painting, and felt that the Ox's eyes were drawn very vividly. Her friend Michelle Leathait, who accompanied her to the Exhibition, especially liked the "Clouds" sculpture. Michelle felt that the layers of cloud surrounding the mountain peak gave rise to unlimited imaginations, and the high peak projected a sense of infinite height. After touring the Exhibition, Michelle purchased an album of After A Thousand Miles Exhibition publication as a souvenir.
Winnie Lai, a lady from China, learned of the Exhibition from the signboard on the exterior wall of the Gallery, and came to visit the Exhibition with four good friends. Because her zodiac sign is an “Ox”, Winnie was seen eagerly taking photos of the Ox paintings. Her Malaysian friend John Lim admired the high-quality exhibits very much and bought an album of After A Thousand Miles Exhibition publication to affirm his appreciation and admiration for the profound artistic creativities of Artist Wen-Jung Hsu.