時間 Dates｜2018.07.28–09.23
開幕 Reception｜2018.07.28 (Sat.) 4:30 p.m.
地點 Venue｜耿畫廊 Tina Keng Gallery

本次展覽「奇妙機緣」是紀嘉華繼2014年後再次舉辦的個展，紀嘉華除了作為一位藝術家，更同時有著如策展人，與建築背景的多重身份，時常轉換在各種不同專業角色間的狀態對紀嘉華的藝術創作來說，其作品不僅未侷限於傳統抽象藝術的形式思考上，反而更像是一種詩性的視覺化呈現，帶有著文學般的情感起伏。紀嘉華的作品往往承載著非常鮮明的性格，豐富多變的色彩運用成了畫面中非常有機的情緒變因，然而嚴謹的構圖佈署卻讓觀者得以保持一個不致沉溺的觀看距離。除此之外，紀嘉華重視創作過程的勞動，他認為繪畫是一種關乎時間的藝術，時間在作畫過程中的堆積，代表著思緒與情緒如同沉積岩般的堆疊；觀者凝視其作品甚至能夠覺察時間書寫於其上的痕跡，也看到紀嘉華對生活的泰然，作品已在畫框內構築了一個完整的世界。

展覽標題「奇妙機緣」發想自英文Serendipity，源於傳說故事〈錫蘭三王子〉(The Three Princes of Serendip) 描述古代錫蘭國王為了磨鍊三位王子，於是安排任務讓他們遊訪世界，在遊歷的過程中他們並不如預期的往目標邁進，卻能在過程中發現意想不到的收穫或幫助了人；爾後他們便以「Serendipity」紀念旅途中一切意外的好運與學習到的智慧。

Serendipity同時代表著偶然、機會，與智慧等綜合條件下才能發生的「機緣」，此字幾乎無法在其它語言中找到可對應的直譯字詞，皆須以現象或多種條件定義、翻譯之，成為英語系世界中最難為其它語言翻譯的字詞。紀嘉華以此為名，作為其生命經驗與創作歷程的一個小結，他相信今日所現，都是生活中許多細小的決定與機緣所累積而成，就如同他在畫布上反覆堆疊與覆蓋而成就一件作品；就像Serendipity在翻譯上的多樣性，他的作品內化了所有生活際遇的插曲與巧合，嚴謹而豐富的色彩承載了紀嘉華如同日常詩一般般的敘事細節。

關於紀嘉華

紀嘉華，1969年生，畢業於美國賓州大學藝術碩士，同時擁有藝術與建築學歷背景的紀嘉華，具備了敏銳的感知能力與細緻而精準的邏輯思維，使他的繪畫在感性的筆觸語彙下有著精準、有秩序的結構。紀嘉華曾多次於國內外舉辦個展與聯展，並且曾策劃多次展覽。
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“Serendipity” is Jason Chi's first solo exhibition since 2014. Being an artist, a curator, also with his architectural background, Chi's often switching among various professional roles, which enables him to create abstract work that is not restricted by their conventional form, but instead presented in poetic visualization, with a literary flow of emotion. Chi’s works often bears a very distinctive character; the use of abundant and varied colors brings organic emotional variables to the paintings, while the rigorous composition allows the viewer to retain a distance far enough from indulgence. In addition, Chi values the labor involved in his creative process, seeing painting as art associated with time, the accumulation of which during the painting process represents the piling up of emotions and thoughts, like the formation of sedimentary rocks. When gazing at his work, the viewer can almost observe the traces that time has left upon the canvas and see Chi’s composed mindset toward life, in the fully constructed world inside the frames.

The title “Serendipity” is originated from a legend “The Three Princes of Serendip.” In ancient times there existed in the country of Serendippo a great king, who wished to cultivate the talents and virtues of three princes, and thus sent them away to travel around the world to complete the missions given. During the journey, they didn’t head for the set goal as they had planned, but gained rewards or helped people unexpectedly. Later on, they used "Serendipity" to memorize incidental good fortune and wisdom acquired during the journey.

"Serendipity" represents the “chance occurrence” that is made possible under the combined conditions of fortuity, opportunity, and wisdom. Having nearly no literal translation in other languages, the word has to be defined or interpreted according to phenomenon occurred or multiple conditions involved, therefore deemed as one of the most difficult words to be translated in the English-speaking world. With the title "Serendipity," Chi sees the exhibition as a summary of his life experiences and creative process. He believes that what's present today is the accumulation of many little decisions and chances in life, just as the layering of paints on the canvas that accomplishes an artwork. Corresponding to various possible interpretations of "Serendipity," his work internalizes the episodes and coincidences encountered in life, with rigorous and rich colors that carry Chi’s narrative details like everyday poetry.

About Jason Chi

Jason Chi, born in 1969, received his M.F.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1995. With a background both in art and architecture, he is endowed with a keen sense of perception and meticulous logical thinking, which allow him to create paintings with a precise and orderly structure under sensual brushstrokes.