北海風雲 Windy Clouds of the Arctic Sea

Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​
Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​

When I was young I did not even dare to dream of going to the far away North Pole and seeing the Arctic Sea. Such a thought, however, stayed deep in my heart, and became a target to be approached step by step.

As I had never let go of this thought, when the right time came and conditions were ready, I went at age 38 with 30 percent of courage, 30 percent of confidence, and another 40 percent of timidity. I have followed my dreams, gone where I wished to, and built up down-to-earth experiences step by step. In this manner, gradually, timidity was replaced by confidence.

I finally stood upon the tundra at the North Pole and painted this “Windy Clouds over the Arctic Sea”, I tried to rub my painfully frozen fingers. Trembling, I cried with tears of joy!

Written by Dan-Fong Liang. Originally published in 築夢之旅 The Journeys of My Dreams, Foguang-Culture Company, Taiwan 2000
English translation by Ming-Chien Liang, and edited by David Carroll and Julie Wolf

大峽谷北緣 North Rim, Grand Canyon

Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​
Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​

It is a test of willpower to go to the Grand Canyon. You’ll see how long your air of arrogance can last! Looking from the rim down to the bottom of the Canyon, even the proudest humans disappear!

Descending toward the bottom of the Canyon, getting closer to the center of the earth, gone are all the flashy glories of the human world!

My toenails turn downside up and my feet are swollen and red. How long could I bear my feelings of hunger? I just could not climb up to the North Rim! No matter how strong-minded to start or how brave I thought I could be, time and time again I just wanted to give up!

Upon hearing that people got exhausted and died at this height, I summoned up all my courage and carried on. I just did not want to fail, though endless dangers still loomed ahead.

I was forty-five years old then. I sat down and painted this work in tears!

Written by Dan-Fong Liang. Originally published in 築夢之旅 The Journeys of My Dreams, Foguang-Culture Company, Taiwan 2000
English translation by Ming-Chien Liang, and edited by David Carroll and Julie Wolf
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玫瑰紅城的一日 A Day in the Rose Red City

"A Day in the Rose Red City" by Dan-Fong Liang, Watercolor, Painter, Artist, Taiwan
Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​

It was my third time heading back to this ancient city at sunset. The grandeur of the Rose Red City still took my breath away!

Its beautiful location in the middle of the desert enhanced the citadels and gates, chiseled out through the efforts of the ancients. In the distance they looked delicate, decked with refined carvings. When I climbed closer, however, the “steps” turned out to be each half as tall as the height of a person! It was even harder to climb these giant steps wearing my very slim and tight qipao dress. Luckily, at that time I was still “young and fit” with a strong mind to train myself to persevere through all kinds of difficulties and dangers. As long as I tried hard, I reached wherever I should.

I did around a few dozen plein air works there. The works were later exhibited in Amman, Jordan, and thereafter I gave half of the works to the Government of Jordan and kept the other half.

Whenever I saw these works again I felt very lucky that I was brave enough to be determined to go there. My life has not been lived in vain! 
Written by Dan-Fong Liang. Originally published in 築夢之旅 The Journeys of My Dreams, Foguang-Culture Company, Taiwan 2000
English translation by Ming-Chien Liang, and edited by David Carroll and Julie Wolf

古西太神殿 An Ancient Hittite Temple

"An Ancient Hittite Temple" by Dan-Fong Liang, Watercolor, Painter, Artist, Taiwan
Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​

When you are in Turkey please don’t forget it has served as a conduit in history both recently and in ancient times. Walking and pondering upon the overlapping layers of relics that signal the existence and confluence of various cultures throughout history and time, I felt my thoughts were so enriched that they expanded beyond limits, and reached new heights.

On that snowy day I went through great hardships climbing, and finally reached this Hittite temple, dated 3400 BC. I paid my respects to it like a pilgrim.

The carvings on the stone walls had weathered and faded, but for me, it only enhanced an undeniable, awe-inspiring presence.

Though my fingers were frozen and trembling, I piously painted the temple. The overwhelming impact of conversing with artists and sculptors from more than five thousand years ago left an unforgettable imprint on my mind.

Written by Dan-Fong Liang. Originally published in 築夢之旅 The Journeys of My Dreams, Foguang-Culture Company, Taiwan 2000
English translation by Ming-Chien Liang, and edited by David Carroll and Julie Wolf

死海邊的村莊 A village next to the Dead Sea

"A village next to the Dead Sea" by Dan-Fong Liang, Watercolor, Painter, Artist, Taiwan
Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​

The Dead Sea is a sea, its water is undrinkable and not survivable for fish. It is surrounded by desert. The intolerable heat of the scorching summer and the bitter cold of the winter alternate year by year. I can’t figure any suitable conditions to allow humans to live there.

Since very ancient times, however, humans have taken up residence by the Dead Sea, forming villages and happy families!

When I was there, a bunch of kids were lively. They ran over to see me painting but were called back home by their mom, who was hanging up clothes to dry.

I wondered where was the water that she can drink, use, and wash clothes?

Much more than that: greenish grey olive trees were thriving and producing olives for the making of delicious olive oil – the best low cholesterol food. What an amazing world it is when all these wonderful things can happen!

Written by Dan-Fong Liang. Originally published in 山河風月 Winds and Moons over Mountains and Rivers: paintings and short essays from my trips to China, Foguang-Culture Company, Taiwan 2001

English translation by Ming-Chien Liang, and edited by David Carroll and Julie Wolf

沙漠之歌 Songs of a Desert, Gangsu

"Songs of a Desert, Gangsu" by Dan-Fong Liang, Watercolor, Painter, Artist, Taiwan
Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​

I’ve visited many deserts around the world and painted their unique features. The difficulties of traveling in deserts have developed in me an inner power to persevere through hardships.

I was taken by surprise when I found this lovely desert next to a little hill topped with a tiny temple in a suburban area of Langzhou. The desert had turned pink in the sunset, but my sense of loneliness was no more, due to the presence of the temple. Children were playing and chasing one another. Someone was picking wild grass and flowers for fun. I stopped, and stopped only to enjoy these lovely episodes with joy!

I finally got a chance to capture the experience in this oil painting. The painting was sold immediately when it was exhibited in Taipei.

Where are you now, my beloved painting? I miss you so much! How I wish I could listen again to the lovely songs of that desert!

Written by Dan-Fong Liang. Originally published in 山河風月 Winds and Moons over Mountains and Rivers: paintings and short essays from my trips to China, Foguang-Culture Company, Taiwan 2001
English translation by Ming-Chien Liang, and edited by David Carroll and Julie Wolf

無定河畔 By the Banks of Wuding River (lit. river of no stability)

By the Banks of Wuding River (lit. river of no stability) by Dan-Fong Liang, Watercolor, Painter, Artist, Taiwan
Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​

There was nothing special about this river. It had its origin, flowing directions, changes through history, sand banks formed by accumulation due to the forces of the water, and the woods and hills on its sides. Bugs flew around little wild grasses and flowers, and fish swam in the water. The serene beauty was just what one can expect from rivers with water flowing gently and disappearing into the distance.

Why then, standing by the bank of the river, was my heart overtaken by sadness? Why was my mind haunted by shadows cast on window panes that looked longingly through and beyond, and ghosts from battlefields roaming far from home?

Was it because of this ancient poem,

“可憐無定河邊骨,猶是春閨夢裡人

Alas the pitiful sights of bones lying by the banks of Wuding River
May belong to the ones their ladies still meet in dreams in spring.”
I wished I did not know this poem! I wished there is no such river as Wuding River!

 

Written by Dan-Fong Liang. Originally published in 山河風月 Winds and Moons over Mountains and Rivers: paintings and short essays from my trips to China, Foguang-Culture Company, Taiwan 2001
English translation by Ming-Chien Liang, and edited by David Carroll and Julie Wolf

海牙之夜 The Hague at Dusk

"The Hague at Dusk" by Dan-Fong Liang, Watercolor, Painter, Artist, Taiwan
Watercolor by Dan-Fong Liang​

In my solitary journey to Europe, the most unbearable moments were at sunset. It seemed customary in The Hague, Holland, to close the stores after work and for everyone to go home. Then, while they enjoyed their family time, I roamed the streets alone.

I couldn’t bear to look at all the homes immersed in warm light, though I have my own home afar.

In one of the evenings in 1978, I could not help but try to capture the warm lights of family gatherings, swamped in sadness and tears…

I might as well have cried, much as I wanted to. It will be over…

Tomorrow would be a new day…. I’d be brave and carry on in my journey again!

Written by Dan-Fong Liang. Originally published in 築夢之旅 The Journeys of My Dreams, Foguang-Culture Company, Taiwan 2000
English translation by Ming-Chien Liang, and edited by David Carroll and Julie Wolf