Not in Distant Mountains Ceramic art by Chris LO Sze Lim 6 - 22.5.2022

Curated and presented by Contemporary Crafts Centre

Contemporary Crafts Centre is proud to present the solo exhibition of Chris LO Sze Lim titled “Not in Distant Mountains”.

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Artist Statement

I have already lived over half of my life. Now that I’m here and reflecting on my life, I am starting to understand that unsettling feeling within me. I have a great desire to roam freely, at the same time, seek solitude, to feel like I never belonged anywhere. I feel so fortunate to be here for three years. I can now breathe the air of freedom, giving me enough time to reflect on my thoughts.

Staying away from the city, I now enjoy a slow-paced life. However, the thoughts have dawned on me that I should have appreciated the little things in my life and have not valued them highly enough. The close contacts we have with those we love, the luxury of being able to daydream. The enriched quality of a kind of existence that is possible when we are not running our lives against a ticking clock. I seem to find peace in a frantic world. Yet, in many ways, it has been idyllic.

My life is filled with paradoxes. At times I feel entangled in grief. We’re the masters of our destiny, but we can’t be on top of everything. So my “ritual pottery” means lots of meditation and implementing little moments of spiritual reflection; whenever and wherever I can to help me silence the noise and find a quiet space to reflect on what comes next. It is a dialogue of my spiritual self, nature and clay.

Exploring nature, navigating the stillness and listening to the magic whispers of the mountains has become my norm. Sometimes a quick and cordial greeting from fellow hikers will make you feel warm. A deep sense of joy and freedom follows.

Overlooking from the Formosa Strait, I wish you courage and strength.

藝術家自述

活過半生，三年前找到讓思緒沉澱的自由空氣︒

移居台灣，住在鄉村，調整步伐，沉澱心情，韜光養晦，重讀陌生的初衷，回歸田土，置身石林山葉間，洗滌心靈，尋找本我的同時，眼看世界四處紛擾瘋狂，就是平衡時空，平靜得有點荒謬失措︒

在悲憤無奈和時刻感恩的跌墮交纏中，體會歲月無常，感恩可以陶作物，旋動按揑，無念靜觀，撿拾人生，細味人情，漸成日常，繼續抬頭大步遊走山石中，與大自然對話，跟自已共處，用陶土素描著當下的交流和感悟︒

偶然出遊，鄉郊問路，都以大自然地標引路：前行見大石右轉，遇見什麼什麼樹大回轉之類的︔在 Google 失序的地域，城市人的邏輯用不上在山水之間，有趣是山林中人都有自己一份私人地圖，記錄着呼吸的空氣和月影晨光，陌生的土地，親切的交談，路途上變得有溫度︒

站在福爾摩沙海峽前，遠眺海平線的盡頭，六百多公里思念，居然一別三年︒

願你歸來仍少年, 地平線上再遇見︒