All creatures infatuated with passions and desires, are tangled in a complex and uncertain time and space. Much is like the time when the world was derived from

color, sound, smell taste, touch and physical law. Fu seems like a mirror, because he reveals what he has seen and experienced without prolonged introspection and the intentional conveying of messages. Although Fu’s works can be thought of as mirrors, the man himself works too hard to be seen in the same manner. Every inch in his pictures comes only through suffering and great effort. His works become mirrors when the viewers see what they want to perceive—maybe heaven, maybe the world of mortals, maybe hell. Through study of his works one finds spiritual worlds constructed with instinctive sensitivity to form and color. This nature of simple complexity or complicated simplicity is rarely seen in the esthetic circles of Taiwan.

In Taiwan, age and professional background are used to measure artist’s achievements. Unfortunately, undue stress is placed on these criteria at the expense of a

more natural appreciation of an artist’s talent.

Fu embarks for a lost paradise where creativity flows without restraint. He paints with certainty instead of external rules. Therefore, only those whose appreciation

is instinctual will perceive his message. Fu’s art is similar to Buddhist doctrines in that no rule can be followed to attain divinity, in another word, but self— actualization can undoubtedly be achieved. Fu as a single case in esthetic circles is similar to Hui Neng—the sixth patriarch of the Zen sect in Buddhism. Fu is carefree and in a state of perfect harmony, without leaning on tutors or a professional background.

Each great artist must be in the possession of internal certainty, which urges him to stick to his intuition. Since any law can’t achieve art, can an artist be successful

within the confines of any school or tradition? No, absolutely not. Art won’t appear unless an artist rids himself of constraint.

As result of his unique creativity, his technique varies greatly from one painting to the next. Coloring, composition, figures and gestures are all subject to new

interpretations

─ The World of Alixe FU - Written by Louie Chang (Ex-director of Taipei Fine Arts Museum)

titled People and people