Danielle Chen

A statement from my father, a confession from me.

The content on these sheets of bamboo paper responds to a daughter's desperation to understand her father’s gradual disconnection from the religious aspects of his cultural heritage. I am an observer to the most urgent phases of my father's diminishing Taiwanese identity following his expatriation to Aotearoa. My practice extrospects this occurrence by painting devotional forms that once held deep significance in his life; these appear as folk Taoist Tudigong altars from his hometown and familial Mahāyāna Buddhist objects salvaged from his disposal. These elements, along with religious symbolism intrinsic to Taiwan, are arranged into compositions guided by Buddhist teachings, represented as the Dharmachakra, and Taoist cosmological principles, expressed through my interpretation of the Dao. I bear a heavy heart at his quiet renunciation of this part of his identity, as it feels like losing something fundamental to both of us. My objective, even without his expressed desire, is to preserve and reawaken this fading relationship on his behalf.