『 半人半獸雕像 』 主題展
2021.06.15 - 07.10
關於這些傳說...
半獸半人參與在神話裡的故事，被創建用於它們的神話扮演的角色。如同大衆所熟悉的人馬、人魚等在《山海經》裡有「英招」、「赤鱬」充滿想像的生物，和希臘神話裡的Chiron 喀戎，Siren塞壬等在東西方神話裡的象徵。
非洲部落文化非常重視動物的代表，同時也象徵著酋長的力量和財富。
另一方面他們製作動物與人合體的雕像，所代表的想法或精神大多是以服務社會為目的 - 守護、防止疾病、乾旱、飢餓、預知的功能。
半獸半人雕像也成為非洲的意識形態中的重要組成部分。雕像中有一部分可看作是人物雕像的補充、 修正或用來表現人們的某種特殊期待。
部落動物形象也都有具體的象徵意義，例如：鳥代表著預言與智慧 / 猴子象徵智識 / 水牛同等於巨大的力氣 / 兩棲動物代表著傑出人物 / 鱷魚是執法者的化身 / 大象表示長壽、陽剛和王室的力量 / 魚象徵著和平和土地肥沃 / 鮎魚與豹代表王權。
這些半獸半人雕像的創作中，再次強化了他們強大的文化根基和對藝術的重視，對於現代來看也是非洲美學的另一種體現。
Half-animal, half-human figures participate in stories from mythology, created for the roles they play in these myths. Similar to well-known mythological creatures like centaurs and mermaids in the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), such as "Ying Zhao" and "Chi Xuan," which are full of imaginative beings, and the figures like Chiron and the Sirens in Greek mythology, symbols from both Eastern and Western mythologies.
African tribal culture places great emphasis on animal representations, which also symbolize the power and wealth of the chieftain. On the other hand, they create sculptures of animals combined with humans, which represent ideas or spirits mainly aimed at serving society—such as protection, preventing disease, drought, hunger, and predicting the future.
These half-animal, half-human sculptures have also become an important part of the ideology within African culture. Part of the sculptures can be seen as a supplement, modification, or a way to express the people's special expectations. Tribal animal representations carry specific symbolic meanings, such as: birds representing prophecy and wisdom, monkeys symbolizing intellect, buffaloes representing great strength, amphibians signifying outstanding individuals, crocodiles as embodiments of law enforcement, elephants symbolizing longevity, masculinity, and royal power, fish representing peace and fertile land, and the eel and leopard representing kingship.
In the creation of these half-animal, half-human sculptures, their strong cultural roots and emphasis on art are further reinforced, presenting another form of African aesthetics when viewed from a modern perspective.
