【羅蘭第一分會 潘青霞心得分享】8月12日在四給日義工出坡服務結束後，知行法師帶領我們前往美術館，聆聽藝術家吳達立講解其展覽「畫中的畫中的畫：探索自我與無限境界」的創作理念。吳達立問我們在第一幅畫(見照片)看到什麼? 我不假思索地說：「一隻小黑蟻看著自己的倒影。」吳達立接著問：「為什麼牠看的是隻紅色的螞蟻呢？那是牠嗎？」我說我不知道，有人回答：「那是牠希望看見的自己。」
吳達立笑而不語，帶我們繼續往前走，我們跟著那小黑蟻，以牠的視角上山下海、乘著樹葉飛翔冒險。
這真的是冒險嗎？我有點疑惑，或者這是受以「蟻」窺天視角所限，當我們所見所知有限，所感所受自然變得敏感或被放大，周遭的一切便風聲鶴唳、危機四伏？
但為什麼井底之蛙沒那麼敏感呢？我又忍不住想，小黑蟻不甘以「蟻」窺天，所以帶著好奇心，勇敢踏上未知的旅程，而有多少人甘於當井底之蛙呢?不過選擇當一隻舒服的小蛙，有錯嗎?
我們在每一幅畫中找尋著渺小的小黑蟻，也試著解開小紅蟻的身世之謎，不過每個人的解讀不同，真有小紅蟻？還是牠是小黑蟻理想的自己？我沒有肯定的解答，但我有感於「莊周夢蝶我夢蟻」，我似乎是小黑蟻？或者小黑蟻是我？那個是我？
再回頭看第一幅畫，我也不能肯定誰看誰了，也許不是小黑蟻從外面看自己的倒影，而是小紅蟻從裡面向外看牠自己？我似乎有點能理解吳達立一開始就說，他的展覽主題雖然是「畫中的畫中的畫」(Inside the Art Within)，但不要被內與外限制，才能「探索自我與無限境界」(Exploring the Self and Infinite Realms)。
我忘了問吳達立，為什麼他選擇以小黑蟻作為主角呢？是不是他覺得在天地間，人如小黑蟻渺小？我又笑起自己，才稍微不被內與外侷限了，怎麼又落入大與小的對立了呢？
畫中的畫中的畫：探索自我與無限境界 展覽介紹
https://sites.google.com/ibps.org/foguangyuanhsilaiartgallery/%E5%B1%95%E8%A6%BD%E6%B4%BB%E5%8B%95exhibition-activities
English Version (Credited to Andrew N.& Avelyn B.)
Title: Zhuang Zhou Dreamt of a Butterfly, I Dream of an Ant: The Me Within Me Within Me
On August 12th, at the conclusion of the Day of Giving volunteering service in Hsi Lai temple, Venerable Zhixing led us to the art gallery to listen to artist Wu Dali’s explanation of the concept behind her exhibition, “Inside the Art Within: Exploring the Self and Infinite Realms.” Wu Dali asked us what we saw in the first painting (as seen in the photo). Without hesitation, I said, “A little black ant looking at its own reflection.” Wu Dali then asked, “Why does it see a red ant? Is that itself?” I replied that I didn’t know, and someone else chimed in, “That is the self it wants to see.”
Wu Dali smiled and remained silent. She continued leading us forward. We followed the little black ant, climbed mountains and dove into the sea from its perspective, soared on leaves in the wind, and embarked on adventures.
Is this really an adventure? I am a little puzzled. It was more accurate to say that we, like the black ant, were misled by our own limited perspective. Peering at the heavens, our sight and knowledge are limited. Our senses naturally become sensitive or magnified, and everything around us becomes fraught with danger and uncertainty.
But why are the frogs in the well not sensitive to this? I can’t help but think about how that little black ant, unwilling to view the sky as just an ant, set out on a journey into the unknown with curiosity and bravery. In contrast, how many people are willing to be content as frogs at the bottom of a well? Although, is there anything wrong with choosing to be a comfortable little frog?
We scoured each painting for the tiny black ant and attempted to unravel the mystery of the little red ant’s identity. However, everyone’s interpretation differed. Does the little red ant truly exist? Is it the ideal version of the little black ant? I had no definitive answer. Yet, I sensed the sentiment of “Zhuang Zhou (also known as Zhuangzi) Dreamt of a Butterfly, I Dream of an Ant.” Am I the little black ant? Or is the little black ant me? Which one is me?
Looking back at the first painting, I also couldn’t be certain who was looking at whom. Perhaps it’s not the little black ant looking at its reflection from the outside, but the little red ant looking at itself from within? I somewhat understand why Wu Dali began by saying that although her exhibition theme is “Inside the Art Within,” one must transcend notions of inside and outside to truly “Explore the Self and Infinite Realms.”
I forgot to ask Wu Dali why she chose the little black ant as the main character. Did she perhaps feel that humans are as insignificant as little black ants within the cosmos? Then I laughed at myself and, in doing so, slightly escaped the confinement of inside and outside. Yet, how did I fall back into the realm of big and small constraints?
Exhibition introduction
“Inside the Art Within: Exploring the Self and Infinite Realms”
https://sites.google.com/ibps.org/foguangyuanhsilaiartgallery/%E5%B1%95%E8%A6%BD%E6%B4%BB%E5%8B%95exhibition-activities
