藝術家劉于新

Exhibition Resonates Across Cultures

My exhibition, illuminated by the presence of Japan’s national treasure Yayoi Kusama, drew a vibrant crowd. Among the visitors were guests from an Islamic country who had traveled after hearing the Mindful Heart podcast.

Though unfamiliar with Kusama, they expressed being deeply moved by my painting Lugang-Blessed by the Vast Sea. This work, weathered through centuries of storms yet still sheltering countless lives, carried a depth that transcended language. They stood in silence, seeing within it the breath of time.

When asked why they were not wearing headscarves, they explained with a smile: “This reflects the awakening of women’s rights in recent years. We want to step into the world as ourselves.”

In that moment, I realized that art is not mere form, but the freedom and stillness of the heart. Just as the weathered walls of Lugang and their clear eyes spoke the same truth, so too did cultures converge echoing the message: when the heart is pure, every place is a sanctuary.

Again,
Gratitude to the media for their thoughtful coverage:
https://lifenews.com.tw/396212/

這次的畫展，因為與日本國寶草間彌生同時的光而格外熱鬧。人群之中，有來自伊斯蘭國度的 聽眾走到我面前。她們是因為琉璃心podcast，才特地循聲而至。

她們並不熟悉草間彌生，表示被我的畫深深吸引。那一幅 #鹿港天后宮 #薄海蒙庥，歷經數百年的風雨滄桑，牆瓦斑駁，仍庇蔭著芸芸眾生。光是中文的解釋，就已蘊含無窮深意，更何況要跨越語言與文化的鴻溝。她們靜靜凝望，看見了時間的呼吸。

輕聲問起：為何不戴頭巾呢？
她們微笑著說，這是近年來女權意識的覺醒，她們要用自己的樣子走向世界。

那一刻，心中湧起無聲的敬意。因為藝術不是外在的形式，而是心靈的自由與安住。無論是鹿港古牆的斑駁，還是她們眼神的清澈，都在說同樣的話，唯有安住當下，才能真正擁抱歷史，也擁抱自己。

更奇妙的是，那份心靈的自由，與伊斯蘭文化中的靜默祈禱竟有神似之處：雙手合十如念珠般串連起時間，凝望畫作宛如面向清真寺的默禱。不同的文化，在此刻相遇，都在低聲訴說著同一個真理，我們心若清淨，處處皆聖殿。

再次感謝媒體用心報導
https://lifenews.com.tw/396212/