See You In My Dream by ARU Meng
孟耿如個展：來夢裡的空間
Artist | ARU Meng 孟耿如
Curator | Ashley Lin
Date｜Sep.25 – Oct.31.2021
Venue | Whitestone Gallery, Taipei
Image | Courtesy of Whitestone
「勇敢面對自己的感受性，誠心誠意一筆一畫描繪的畫中充滿了愛！」— 知名日本當代藝術家 小松美羽
孟耿如是一位具有多重身份的藝術創作者， 對她來說創作起初是為了背離外界的關注，卻意外地在過程中找到了另一個從未發現的自我。在與創作共處的時間裡，她慢慢地療傷，填補失去親人的情緒黑洞，學習著面對心底最赤裸的情感。藝術創作儼然成為她最能表現自我的方式之一，在畫材裡遊走的她，靈魂是自由的。
本次展覽每件藝術作品中都有一位頭部開著花朵的外星人ARU 。 在童趣的筆觸裡，外星人ARU穿梭在泳池底、叢林中、或是夢境一般的外星球景色，帶著觀者走進藝術家最深層又秘密的感情世界。從親情的牽絆到愛情的酸甜，從友情的陪伴到自身的思考，ARU經歷著人類才擁有的複雜情感，勇敢地面對並坦然地接受它們。
生於1991年，藝術家孟耿如是外星人ARU的幕後推手，她說過：「很訝異突然可以在創作中找到另一個我，並且跟演員完全是相輔相成的另一種身分；一個是用身體表達情緒，一個是用顏料筆觸形體來傳達意念。」就如同孟耿如總是挑戰戲劇裡不同的角色，在創作媒材的選擇上也從不設限，壓克力顏料、西班牙蠟彩、木頭雕塑甚至是水泥等複合媒材，對她來說皆為靈感的來源。
此次與展覽同步推出創作圖文書，收錄孟耿如充滿童趣又色彩繽紛的繪畫，及洗練且觸及真心的文字，她首度毫不保留地闡述自己在面對弟弟猝逝後的療傷過程、各種情感的細節與人生的體悟與勇氣。以藝術揭開自我的傷疤，並帶領讀者一起等待傷口結痂。誠摯邀請您透過藝術作品及文字，一同走入充滿獨特魅力的藝術家孟耿如夢裡的空間。
“Bravely embrace your feelings. Paint each picture with sincerity and feel the warmth of love.” — Japanese contemporary artist, Miwa Komatsu
ARU Meng is an artist with multiple identities. At first, she started to create to deviate from the attention of the outer world, but she unexpectedly found another side of herself throughout the creating process. Through her art, she’s gradually healing from the pain of losing her loved ones and facing her real emotions. Art has become a way to express herself. Her soul is liberated when she’s working with different art mediums.
There is a flower head alien, ARU, in every artwork in this exhibition. In her childlike brushstrokes, ARU appears in the bottom of the pool, the jungle, or the outer space, leading the viewers into the world of her deepest emotions.
Born in 1991, ARU Meng once said, “I am quite surprised that I have found another side of myself that’s completely different from being an actor. I express my emotions through acting, and my thoughts through creating.” Just as she always challenges herself with different roles in dramas, she never sets limits on the creative media she uses. Acrylic paints, Encaustic Cuni, wood, and cement are all sources of inspiration for her.
She also launched her very first picture book along with the exhibition, which included childlike and colorful paintings, as well as refined and genuine words. She revealed her healing process after the sudden death of her younger brother unreservedly for the first time. We sincerely invite you to enter the unique charm of ARU Meng’s dreams.
Image | Courtesy of Whitestone
