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

台北當代藝術館的實驗展場，特訂於今年母親節檔次開幕的【毅象無邊–李柏毅個展】，也是李柏毅新作系列國際巡迴展的首站。本展的策劃，旨在反映當代藝術界回歸主體的省思，呈現一種根植於個體生活和自然初心的藝術視野，提出一種有別於世俗或世故的價值觀點，從中揭示出從個人專注的美感創造，到社會導向的美學傳達之間，一些可能的思考方向和值得參考的實踐模式。

本展期許的是，透過李柏毅純真而燦爛的創作，為逐日混亂的世界注入美感及和平的意象，為普世人類的痛苦帶來紓解和快樂的力量。李柏毅的創作，自在地結合了豐富的生活體驗和無邊的心靈想像，從混亂複雜的現實世界中，轉化出具有個人獨特風格的視覺圖像和色彩饗宴；本次展覽，除了首次公開李柏毅挑戰自我的長卷繪畫新作系列，部分作品也特意結合了數位互動機制，希望將現場作品的觀賞閱讀，從靜態、平面和完成品，延伸或還原到動態、空間和進行中的另一種感知經驗。

【毅象無邊】的語境根源，是當下和切身的日常現實，但李柏毅透過原真自然的創作，一次又一次帶引我們平心靜氣而樂觀地，去重新面對當代文明進展所帶來的種種社會及文化議題。他筆下的街景、人物與動物⋯等，大膽而不做作地呈現橘紅、紅、翠綠、鮮黃、紫、寶藍等鮮豔的色面組合，偶而加上一些金漆或銀粉，以相當接近彩虹光譜的色彩演出，配合流利自信的黑色線條造型，從眾人眼中混沌污濁的現實中，繪寫出風和日麗、平和抒情的另一款世界意象。

李柏毅1989年出生於洛杉磯，一歲半時被確診為自閉症患者，至八歲時流露出藝術上特殊的天份，在母親簡靜惠全職的關照和盡心盡力的支持下，他透過繪畫與圖像，開闢了與外界溝通的一個特殊管道，他無時無刻不在畫畫，用畫筆取代唇舌，傾訴了他所體會的人生。李柏毅的外公簡錦錐，是臺北極著名文薈場所「明星咖啡館」的創辦人，與臺灣藝文界有著千絲萬縷的關係，而李柏毅除了熱衷於個人創作外，也陸續為明星咖啡館設計了一系列的商品新包裝。

從怕臉上沾到任何水珠的嬰兒，到成為比賽級的長泳健將；從可能失衡、無法走路的小孩，發展成愛好騎馬和滑雪的青年；從可能因自閉症而無法與人溝通，李柏毅自繪畫天地中，也成功地開闢出了一條和外界銜接，與世人分享源源美感的陽光大道，如今，包括設計和音樂在內，他的多方才華已光芒四射而普獲肯定。原來，他受自天啟和家教的藝術才能，是打開世人藝術視野和美學共感的一把光明之鑰！  MoCA Studio presents Perseverance – No Limitation: Leland Lee Solo Exhibition shortly before Mother’s Day. The show kicks off an international tour of Taiwanese-American artist Leland Lee’s new works. In planning the exhibit, the organizers have selected works that reflect how the contemporary art field has returned to the individual life. The pieces in this collection celebrate an artistic vision deeply rooted in the individual life and in the concept of original intention. Proposing refreshing values that contrast with a secular perspective, the exhibition unveils a noteworthy way of thinking and practice that parlays the creation of a personal aesthetics to communicate to a broader society.

It is hoped that the innocence and brilliance of Lee’s works can imbue the disorderly world with a sense of beautiful and peaceful images, and provide a comforting and cheering power to alleviate the human suffering. Lee’s works combine rich life experiences and boundless imagination in a carefree manner, transforming with a distinctive style the chaotic complexities of reality into colorful, visual representations. The exhibit showcases Lee’s long-scroll painting series, his first attempt with traditional Chinese painting, along with works that incorporate interactive digital media. The application of digital media reconfigures the viewing of still, two-dimensional works into a dynamic, spatial, and ongoing perceptive experience.

The artistic context of Perseverance – No Limitation originates from the artist’s present, personal, everyday life. Lee guides his audience to calmly and optimistically contemplate afresh all sorts of social and cultural issues brought about by contemporary society. The painted cityscapes, people, and animals are rendered in bold and unpretentious colors:orange, red, emerald green, bright yellow, royal blue – interspersed with gold paint and silver powder. The use of prismatic colors, integrated with free-flowing, confident forms outlined in bold, black strokes, gives shape to an agreeable, harmonious world that stands in contrast to the tumultuous reality clouding people’s eyes.

Leland Lee was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1989. He was diagnosed with autism when he was one and half years old. At the age of eight, he showed a unique artistic talent. Through the full-time care and dedicated efforts of his mother, Karen Chien, Lee created a particular way of communicating with the world through the act of painting. He has been painting continuously ever since, making his voice heard through his paintbrush, and conveying through the life he has experienced. Lee’s maternal grandfather, Archiybold Chien, is the founder of Astoria Café, a renowned and historic cultural site in Taipei, and he has been deeply involved in Taiwan’s cultural circles. Apart from his paintings and other artworks, Lee has also designed a series of merchandise packaging for the café.

From an infant who was afraid of getting water on his face, Lee has developed into a professional long-distance swimmer. From a toddler who was physically off-balance and might never walk, Lee has grown to love horseback riding and skiing. From a child who was diagnosed as autistic, with the possibility of never speaking, Lee has found a way to connect with the world and to share unending artistic beauty, through painting. Today, his multiple talents, including design and music, shine to all corners of the world and have won wide acclaim. His divinely inspired and home-schooled talents could be seen as the illuminating key to awaken one’s collective artistic vision and aesthetic perception.