Benrei HUANG Solo Exhibition: Embrace! With Your One Ear and My One Ear, We Become One

Oh, my friend! Could it be? " We have been searching for each other well before our paths crossed—it must be written in the stars. To utter our names is to feel like a warm embrace." If all of this is true, then let's embrace! With your one ear and my one ear, we become one.

Day after day, within the rhythm of our unchanging routines, gentle thoughts well up from the heart like soft waves, rippling outward...

Text / Benrei HUANG

         I once heard an English song about a cunning wolf disguised as a sheep constantly whispering smooth, deceptive words to Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf says things like, “Little Red Riding Hood, you sure are lookin’ good. You’re everything that a big bad wolf could want. So, until you get to grandma’s place, I think you ought to walk with me and be safe” Or something like “What a big heart I have, the better to love you with. I’m gonna keep my sheep suit on until I’m sure that you’ve been shown. Even bad wolves can be good”... All the overly flattering and manipulative words twist an innocent fairy tale into a tale of deceit. 

         Ever since I read the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, I’ve found myself questioning Little Red’s decisions more than once. Even after her grandmother’s warning about the dangerous wolf lurking in the woods, she still chooses to venture into the forest. Isn’t that kind of foolish? Mischievous? She even insists on wearing a conspicuous bright red cloak, as if trying to stand out in the treacherous forest.

         In response to the many loopholes in this story, I created a painting in 2014 titled Temptation for the little red. In the piece, Little Red, cloaked in red and standing in the shadows, is drawn toward the light cascading down a distant staircase. Doesn’t it resemble situations we often face in real life? Curiosity about the unknown and hesitation in the face of uncertainty can make even a mysterious light source irresistibly captivating, even overwhelmingly tempting.

         Yet, the symbolism in fairy tales goes far beyond surface-level interpretations. As we grow older, we either explore our inner selves, persistently uncovering the darkness we’ve concealed beneath layers, or we expand and evolve, adding complexity to our being.

         A decade later, Little Red’s story takes on a new form. This could be the next chapter of her life, or perhaps a new realm for many of the Little Reds like her—shedding the modest red cloak and putting on a more extravagant, exaggerated version, as they finally ascend to a higher stage.

         Why? To find her wolf.

         Why her wolf? Because it is her curiosity, her temptation, her fear, and most importantly, the allure of the unknown that draws her into exploration.

( The creation of Looking for her wolf was made possible through the collaboration with New York-based textile artist and fashion designer Xiaomo Chen. It only came to life after months of extensive discussions and experimentation. )

Benrei HUANG

• 1959 Born in Taipei, Taiwan
• 1982 BFA, Department of Fine Arts, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
• 1992 MFA, Illustration as Visual Essay Department, School of Visual Arts, New York, USA

Benrei HUANG draws inspiration from everyday life and uses Nini the rabbit as a vehicle for contemplation and reflection on her experiences. From Benrei HUANG’s paintings we can get a glimpse of the artist’s inner world, as most of them are inspired, directly and indirectly, by the people, things and events that take place in her immediate environment. Sometimes a painting comes from her mourning for the loss of a pet; sometimes it could be an afterthought when she encountered a street performer (singer) in the subway; and sometimes it may be to express her anxiety about environmental degradation. Benrei HUANG believes that all creatures on Earth are only a small part of the universe. Although the course of nature and life are beyond our control, optimism and a fighting spirit may be our only way to give meaning to our existence. As such, HUANG’s works often emanate a hint of sadness and helplessness yet at the same time filled with warmth and humor. Though personal, her works contain emotions that are universal to us, and thus they become a mirror of our own experiences, and from them we are able to see a bit of ourselves.

Benrei HUANG Solo Exhibition – Embrace! With Your One Ear and My One Ear, We Become One

• Opening: November 9, 2024 (Sat.)
• Date: November 9 — December 14, 2024
• Address: ESLITE GALLERY∣B1, No. 88, Yanchang Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110055, Taiwan (eslite spectrum Songyan Store)
• Opening Hours: 11am-7pm, Tuesday – Saturday (closed on Sunday and Monday)