The mural is the work of Jose Hsu, who painted an outer wall of the temple with his own version of the revered god two years ago. Key to the painting’s fame is that the striking figure of Chifu Wangye differs greatly from traditional representations. The seventh-century military leader is said to have sacrificed himself to prevent the spread of plague. For this, he is normally shown with a black face representing the poison he ingested.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to present the deity in exactly the same way in every work of art,” Hsu said. “The point is to share the story with local residents and visitors.” The mural does precisely that, illustrating Chifu Wangye’s life in vivid detail while also incorporating imagery reflecting the temple’s history and the port city’s past and present.
Hsu’s murals inspired by traditional Taiwan culture are a perfect match for Tainan’s rich history.
Born and raised in southern Taiwan, 44-year-old Hsu studied ink wash painting in the Department of Fine Arts at Tunghai University in the central city of Taichung. An unexpected turn in his artistic development came when he moved to southeastern Spain to study for a year.
While there Hsu visited museums and delved deeper into diverse possibilities for utilizing color and form, especially in murals. “Architectural painting is an age-old profession, and Europe offers access to works by some of the most celebrated names in history, including Leonardo da Vinci,” he said.
Hsu began his foray into painting murals in 2013 while working on a project at Nankunshen Temple in Tainan, which later led him to pursue an apprenticeship in southern Taiwan’s Chiayi City. His studies and training gave rise to a remarkable work commissioned by Tainan’s Wind God Temple. Hsu’s depiction of the divinity soaring gracefully through a starry sky was so impressive that it landed him the mural job at Puji Temple.
Works by Hsu are dotted around throughout Tainan.
In addition to exploring his potential skill in art restoration, Hsu is planning to undertake more murals at local temples through cooperation with the city government. The artist believes in adding his own twist to works embellishing heritage structures, as such an approach promotes continuous artistic innovation, diversifying and enriching cultural traditions, he said.
The process of creating is first and foremost a quest to cultivate one’s signature style, Hsu said. The artist particularly relishes the challenges of murals because physical surroundings add additional layers of complexity and depth to works. “Inspiration often comes from the environment and cultural context, rather than a preconceived vision. It’s critical to create harmony with the setting,” he added. (SFC-E) (By Pat Gao)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
(This article is adapted from “Depicting Divine” in the November/December 2020 issue of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)