台北當代藝術館 官方網站 Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei

生命的探索，包括自我的發現，精神的認同，價值的建構，意義的追求…等等，為此，生活盡可展開不同的實驗與方向。而本次展覽「真．性．情─好色之ㄊㄨˊ」則是由近年來矢志投入創作、並對中外藝術皆有深度涉略與沉浸的蕭耀所揭開，透過其特有的觀察角度，以情色議題為創作語言，分從「抽象符號」、「人間繪本」和「自然風情」等面向切入，表述其多重探索和多元表現的實驗精神。

這些面向如是蕭耀創作的三部曲式，也是其對人性慾望的三種論述：以抽象符號為核心的「真」系列，融合了文字與圖案的互文轉換、或成語和俚語的諧音轉義，透過戲謔化的圖像手法，既真誠也真實的去釋放人性中所被壓抑的情思、慾念與頑性；而歸類於人間繪本的「性」系列，則是將人間性事，視為自然運作的一環來鋪陳和看待，以溫婉的筆調，將個體行為延伸成社會情境的描繪和呈現；而以寫實手法和具象風格呈現的自然風景畫，則是隸屬於「情」系列的創作，有意地在地理景觀中穿插／置入了類比人體男女性徵的圖景，傳達一種對於自然生機原力的讚嘆與崇敬，以及自然對人類慾望／行動的有形激發和無形驅策。

展場中，蕭耀將這三類畫作並時性的集結展出，而在規劃和設計上，也立意讓觀者穿越不同門道，先後進入內容氛圍各異的三種空間，透過平靜式的圖像閱讀、強迫性的身體穿越、窺看式的尋私探秘、互動式的遊戲導入等不同機制，來欣賞其以不同的藝術媒材、形式語言所完成的各類作品成果，正如展覽名稱所點出：

它體現了一個好色之徒的藝術之途， 因為「真」誠愛好， 所以不願壓抑掩飾。
它鋪陳了一位藝術之徒的好色之圖， 因為「性」之所趨， 所以不須矯揉做作。
它提供了一批藝術之圖的好色之途， 因為「情」能共鳴 ，所以不必獨吞自享。

「真．性．情─好色之ㄊㄨˊ」是蕭耀在一種自我命題下的歷時性創作成果，同時體現不同層次的閱讀語彙，蘊含了人性中的至真與至情，並為觀眾開啟了一場極具實驗精神的拾艷之旅。 The exploration of life includes various aspects, such as discovery of one's self, spiritual identification, construction of values, pursuit of meanings…etc. Therefore, life's exploration should comprise of different experiences and experiments. Candid Erotica: Amorous Paintings displays the artworks by York Hsiao, who fully dedicates his life to artistic creation in recent years and possesses much knowledge about Taiwanese and foreign art. Hsiao adopts a unique perspective to observe and portray human erotica, delineating his theme from three aspects that are "abstract symbols," "earthly depiction," and "natural landscape," all together expressing his experimental spirit in multifaceted exploration and diverse expression.

Through his depiction of the three aspects, Hsiao presents an artistic trilogy that displays his interpretation of human desire in three series. The Truthfulness series that features abstract symbols incorporates an amalgamation of text and image as well as a sense of word play embodied by the homonymic sounds of idioms. Through a playful approach, the series candidly and truthfully releases the suppressed amorous thoughts, desires and human nature. The Sexuality series features the theme of "earthly depiction," treating and portraying sex in this world as part of nature's cycle. The sweet, gentle style of the series uses individual behaviors as a metaphor for social scenarios. The Feelings series comprises of Hsiao's landscapes depicted with concrete images in a realistic style. The artist intentionally incorporates and contextualizes images of male and female sexual organs in natural landscape, conveying his praise and reverence for nature's original vitality as well as how nature can tangibly stimulate and intangibly incite human desires and actions.

In this solo exhibition, the artist displays his three types of paintings at the same time. In terms of exhibition layout and traffic flow, he designs to let visitors pass through different entrances, guiding them into three spaces of respective ambience. Through reading paintings, penetrating spaces, prying into secrets, and playful interactiveness, audience can appreciate Hsiao's artistic creations of different media and forms. As reflected by the exhibition title：

The exhibition reveals the artistic journey of an amorist; because of his Truthfulness, he is not suppressing or camouflaging his desire.
The exhibition demonstrates an artist's amorous paintings; as propelling Sexuality permits, his works are candid and unpretentious.
The exhibition offers a chance to admire these candid paintings; for the resonance of human feelings, these paintings should be shared with all.

Candid Erotica: Amorous Paintings represents the artist's diachronic artistic achievements of self-assigned topics. It simultaneously demonstrates the various layers of Hsiao's art as well as the true color and nature of humanity. Viewing the exhibition is indeed a splendid journey of experimental spirit.