"In more simple words, my work is about life, the heart, and the decision it takes."
Jo Wu 吳自若 (1995, TW)’s work explores the possibility of healing through building an intimate relationship with nature. Her work draws from daily meditative observation of nature such as plants, trees, and water around her, and results in poetic expressions of the inner sensation felt within the process. She regards her work as the end point of the meditative process that seeks to identify emotions that seem impossible to describe in words. Her painting is a direct reaction to this layer of tension between the language of painting and the language of words. In her painting, the making process has gradually become easily visible, mirroring language’s linearity and irreversibility. The contrast of painting (that which makes the sound of silence) and language (that which makes the sound of words), as well as certain Buddhist and Sufi traditions and discourses on language and sound, altogether fuels her practices as a painter and poet. She conducts her artistic practice in the mannerism of prayer, a faith proposal where the meditative process itself creates space and transparency. By drawing out the inconspicuous boundaries between word-painting, personal-universal, or other opposing ideas, in this light-weighted, lucid, and empty space, she searches for the connection between oneself and nature or reality, and ultimately chances of healing through inner peace.
Jo participated in the study of literature at National Taiwan University before completing her bachelor of fine art with honour at Minerva Academy in Groningen, The Netherlands. She obtained her master of fine arts in painting with great distinction at The Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) in Gent, Belgium in 2024. In 2021, She published her poetry A Debate on Water. She has been exhibiting with Josilda Da Conceição gallery since 2023. Currently, she works at a flowershop and makes bouquets for some days in a week. She is also a Nichiren Buddhism practitioner and practices music in her daily life.
Contact