Introducing Chris Chou. I first met her in spring 2001 when I noticed her work at the Boston University Graduate Show. I went in to see the show and fell in love with her work. Palpitations kind of in-love. I went back a second time and brought my husband Mark, our Team Tolstoy photographer. She was there, and we got acquainted. I went back a third time to see her work again with another friend, and she was there again. We've been good friends ever since. We shared studio space in East Boston for a few years which was a very happy time. Chris made 2 collages the same day. She is from Taiwan, English is her second language. I asked her to comment about her pieces. She was lying on the floor as I read her the passages, and she commented. Here is what she has to say:
"The central red figure is a woman, a very spicy and sexy woman. The black and gold dots on the side are Pierre's thoughts about her. The gold represents hope; the black represents dark corner. As a human being we always have 2 sides. The central red figure also represents a gap, a disconnect. I have a feeling that Pierre will never win this woman. If you can reach the reality, the gap can become a bridge."
I think it's amazing that she came up with those comments, basically free-associating, knowing hardly anything about the story line, other than what I read to her. Chris is an amazing artist and Guggenheim-award winner. As well as a dear friend and now Team Tolstoy player. You can see more of her work on her blog
A Red Studio
--Lola
Chris Chou
from page 263-264 of original text
collage, acrylic paint
made 6/18/10
Thank you,Lola. I enjoy reading your blog.By the way,I know "war and peace" --it is very famous,just never read in English version.
ReplyDeleteMy apologies to Chris! Not only did I get it completely wrong (I had originally written that she wasn't familiar with War and Peace), but my intention was different in any case. What I meant to say -- shame on me -- is how she related to the text immediately, without necessarily knowing the story line. I meant to say how impressed I was with her response. It speaks to the universal themes of the book. That said, I can't even name one book of Chinese literature. I made it sound as if she should have known the title (which she did!!). That's what I get for writing about other people! Sorry, Chris. -- Lola
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