2014
The Bird Catchers 捕鳥人
Foreword 前言
A Tribute to Our Flying Friends
Rooted in Chinese art history since Warring States Period, Gongbi huaniao (工筆花鳥) is a long-established genre which refers to the fine portraying of strange creatures and rare flowers. Due to the flaunting of wealth by the noble in ancient palace, the traditional Gongbi huaniao possesses a prime focus on the realistic representation of mythical and legendary organisms and plantations. It is therefore characterized by the oriental realism and indispensable details which requires high-level of concentration and skills of sketching, line-drawing and colouring. This skilled art is often paid as a tribute to the emperor. In lieu of depicting precious and auspicious creatures that are only found in the palace, Eunice Cheung extended the fine traditions to commonly seen animals and wildlife. In her 2012 debut solo exhibition, Eunice personificated various animals to perform human mundane, ranging from bathing to shopping, whereas in her latest series, birds are given more emotional roles, being either the fierce and aggressive predators or the victimized preys running in fear. The theme of The Bird Catchers sets on the hunting of birds due to predator’s fascination for the beauties and freedom represented by these flying friends. The human hunting for birds and birds hunting for their own kinds are embodied as a metaphor for Eunice to criticize the selfish and unlimited desire and greed.
Royal painters like HuangQuan (黄筌) spent hours to study the appearance, the ratio of animals and the spirit of each species so as to present the vivid life of different creatures on the planet. Likewise, in aid with her meticulously drawn details and generous palette, Eunice Cheung dedicated her genuine observations of birds into her paintings. What differentiates her art practice from ancient royal painters is the seamless blend of surrealistic connotations into her seemingly poetic paintings. Similar to Magritte’s Ready-Made Bouquet, the peaceful and calmed composition of Eunice’s works is filled with an indistinct sense of uncertainty. In The Mother of Nature, the exquisite back portrait of the figure remains still yet also alienates audience by the unveiled, mystical face. The elegancy and the prominent aura of the lady are constituted by the delicate lace dress, the neatly tied hair and also the richly decorative hat. Each detail reinforces the fact that she is a classy fine lady who is out of reach. In the pairing work, Dreamer in Wonderland, facial expression of the lady is revealed but the distant and lonely gaze is as unwelcoming as its sister work. The stand-alone, cold and indifferent lady is contrasted by the warm-coloured, united tropical birds. The expressive contrast of the detached and the rejoiced casts a spot light on the main figure of this exhibition.
In spite of being the symbols of treasure and freedom, tons and millions of birds are hunted, kept, raised or killed for fashion just for the pleasure of human. The fliting and freedom of birds are sacrificed for the sense of ownership of mankind. The fluffy and fruity-coloured feathers are torn and re-arranged as ornaments for the decoration of hand-held fan and gigantic flamboyant hats. Amid the production of these fashionable items that last only for a season and for the feast of eyes, inhumane hunting activities continue to threaten the lives of birds. The major scrutiny here is not only to unveil the evilness of exploiting animals but the underlying irony of ownership. Human beings seem to have captured and caged birds, yet their most precious qualities, the freedom of flying in the blue sky, is never under arrest. Each feather on the hat is a piece of evidence of past flying in the breeze and fliting across shadows and sunshine. Yet the torn and glued feathers on hat are no longer part of the flying movement but a fossil-like history of the vanished freedom. Long for the free soul and body, human as hunters are sarcastically taking away freedom from other kinds. The ironic human decision, the uncontrolled behaviour driven by desire and the sacrifice of the Nature are what truly Eunice decides to address. Her profound and solemn concerns for the wildlife, the intricate observation towards humanity, together with the surrealistic beauty and fine techniques, compose one of shiniest gems in contemporary art.
Cindy Lim
Dec 2014
致雀鳥的讚歌
自戰國時期以降，工筆花鳥已是中國藝術史上重要的一環，它所指的是細緻工整地描繪珍禽異獸、奇花異卉的創作類型。由於皇公貴族的炫富獵奇心態，傳統的工筆花鳥均集中在像真地描繪珍稀貴重的動植物。因此具東方寫實主義的工筆花鳥畫，要求栩栩如生的細節，亦要求藝術家對素描、線條繪製、渲染等各方面技藝的專注及精練。這項富含技巧性的藝術，經常作為貢品進獻予帝王。有別於以往只畫珍稀吉祥的宮廷物種，張氏對工筆傳統作出了延伸，把所畫對象擴闊至平凡的野生動物。在2012年的首度個展中，藝術家將企鵝、大象當成人類般，以擬人的手法繪畫牠們處理日常事務的景象，如洗澡、逛街等；及至今次展覽，雀鳥們則被賦予更具複雜情緒的角色，如兇暴地狩捕中的獵人或楚楚可憐、四處奔竄的獵物。《捕鳥人》旨在追溯狩獵的根本，探究人或雀鳥同類狩捕的本質，直面人類的佔有慾。
宮廷畫師如黄筌，花費長時間研究各物種的外型、比例、牠們活動的姿態，進而表現牠們的神髓與生命力。同樣地，張惠文以她精細平均的勾線及豐富斑斕的色彩表現對雀鳥入微的觀察。與工筆傳統不同的是，張氏以當代視角創作如詩的畫作，並融入超現實的意涵。《大地之母》那看似平靜無風的畫面，彷如馬格列特的《Ready-Made Bouquet》一樣，是畫中人蠢蠢欲動、隨時轉身前的一刻。精緻高貴的背像不向觀者流露一絲神色面容，細密的蕾絲裙領、盤束整齊的髮髻、裝點華麗的帽子，滲透出女仕的雍容雅貴，與令人難以親近的貴族氣息。在構圖相近的《造夢者的奇異國度》，畫中女仕雖顯露了側面的臉龐，但其不苟言笑的表情、向遠方的凝視也疏遠著世俗。孤清冷漠的女仕身影，與頭上色彩繽紛、喧嘩和鳴的熱帶侯鳥們形成強烈對比，亦透過落寞與歡愉比照出是次展覽的主角。
為著一已私慾，人類剝奪了雀鳥的自由與翩翩翱翔的機會。即使在中國文化中雀鳥有著各種吉祥的指涉，數以萬計的鳥類仍難免面臨被捕殺、囚禁與蓄養的命運。牠們絢麗的羽毛被剝下，重新裝飾成人們手裡的羽扇與誇張奪目的帽子。在這場眼睛的盛宴間，多少不人道的狩獵行為威脅著鳥兒的生命。這裡帶出的反思，不只限於殘害動物的行為，而是對美的佔有慾的矛盾。人們似乎把美麗的羽翼關在鳥籠中，但牠真正寶貴的特質——自由自在的飛翔——卻從未得到手。每片羽毛都是曾在陽光微風間穿梭自如的紀錄，可是生剝下來用漿糊黏在帽緣的，只不過是像化石一般消逝的歷史遺跡。追求身心靈解放的人類，卻以狩捕奪取了其他物種的自由。張氏所關注的，便是這其中慾望失控的矛盾。她對動物的關愛、對人性的內省，配上超現實的美學觀點與純熟的技藝表現，成就了香港當代藝術中耀目的一鑽。
林雅晶
2014年冬
The Mother of Nature
大地之母 Ink and color on silk 水墨設色絹本 138 X 83 cm 2014 
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Five Acts Outside The Mirror
Lo Mei Wa Her cat was probably hiding under the sofa. She stooped and searched it. One stuffed snow bunting fell out from her hat. The cat flounced out, snatched and tore the bird asunder. “This is gasoline!” She grumbled in an alfesco café adjacent to the rivulets. A male egret hovered over her hat, plunged to peck the eyes of the stuffed egret posing in his seductive best till the two beads went loose, and shitted. The childless wife only wears her hat with stuffed grebe fledglings at home. She was drying clothes in the backyard when the crested grebe mother from the near pond led her queue of chicks to perch at her feet, guarding. The bird lover crowns herself “The Queen of Bird”. One single ruffed grouse spotted a good looking mate on her dumped black hat in the woods. He neared to study the face, then drummed “thump-thump” to court the stuffed mate. Golden-winged woodpecker turned rare. The dead tern and her chick were still staring from her least favorite hat. She plucked them out to make room for the arrival of a new stuffed woodpecker. The cat lost interest this time. 鏡外五幕 盧美樺 翻譯：盧美樺 編輯：梁慧思 她的貓可能就躲在沙發下面。她俯身搜索， 一隻填塞而成的雪鵐從她帽子上掉下來。 貓兒飛撲而出，一把抓住，把鳥兒撕得四分五裂。 「這根本是汽油！」她在小溪旁一家露天咖啡館內發牢騷。 帽上那隻塞滿棉花的白鷺擺出最誘惑的姿勢，一隻雄性白鷺在帽上盤旋， 俯衝喙啄白鷺的雙眼，直至兩顆珠子鬆脫，然後洩糞。 這個沒有孩子的太太在家裡只披著那頂帽子，上面是塞滿棉花的鸊鷉幼雛。 她在後園晾衣服時，一隻來自附近池塘的鸊鷉母親 帶領她的幼雛隊伍，在婦人腳邊坐下，看守著。 這名愛鳥者自封為「萬鳥之后」。一隻孤寡的松雞 在叢林裡發現一頂她丟棄的黑帽，上面是一隻漂亮的同類。 松雞靠近，端詳這臉孔，「登登」鳴叫，向這充塞棉花的同類示愛。 金翅啄木鳥越發罕見。在最失她歡心的帽子上， 那隻死掉的燕鷗和她的幼雛仍瞪著眼。她把他們拔掉， 騰出空間予新到塞滿棉花的啄木鳥。這次貓兒不屑一顧。 翻譯自英詩Five Acts Outside The Mirror Bird List 鳥兒名單
Common Tern 普通燕鷗 Ruffed Grouse 披肩松雞 Great Crested Grebe 鳳頭鸊鷉 Great Grey Shrike 灰伯勞 Snow Bunting 雪鵐 Pheasant 雉 Silver Pheasant 白雉 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher剪尾王霸鶲 Egret 白鷺 |
The Dreamer in Wonderland
造夢者的奇異國度 Ink and color on silk 水墨設色絹本 138 X 83 cm 2014 
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Five Acts Inside the Mirror
Lo Mei Wa “Look, this is the Indian Ocean. The sun sprinkles golden powder on her turquoise skin to show you the way home.” The cruise ship horn bellows. The kingfisher rejoices, shrilling “CHI-KEEEEEE”, fluttering about the garden. “Welcome back. This is the biggest red rose in Bulgaria. You can see her a thousand miles away. She marks home in the atlas.” The rose goes even redder. The waxwing drops his berry in the beak, flies over to kiss the rose. The owl on the pine tree all through the grey Canadian winter is still counting days. Covered in snow, he stops the counting at the sight. “I’ll play the game with you again. Sit with me.” Relieved, the noisy blue jay races towards his old prey. “Utter a love word and I’ll flare a spark on your lips.” The hummingbird dances about in his flowery garden, flirting the demure white tulip and the lady smock. His crimson zinnia back home is fading, still waiting for his touch. The old banana tree is too old to hold. His hair loosened, backbone cracked. The scorching sun spares the old man by taking a brief vocation. The magnificent greater bird-of-paradise comes back to see his last face. The banana tree grins, wrinkles gone. 鏡內五幕 盧美樺 翻譯：盧美樺 編輯：梁慧思 「看，這是印度洋。太陽在她綠寶石色的皮膚上灑上金粉， 指引你回家的方向。」郵輪的汽笛低鳴。 翠鳥歡天喜地，尖叫「積積」，在花園裡激動拍翼。 「歡迎你回來。這是保加利亞最大的玫瑰，千里之外也看得見。 她在地圖上標出家之所在。」玫瑰的臉漲得更紅。 太平鳥吐出喙裡的小莓，飛去親吻玫瑰。 加拿大灰濛濛的嚴冬中，松樹上的貓頭鷹仍在數日子。披著白雪的他 抬望眼，終於停了下來。「我再跟你玩遊戲吧。來，坐下。」 眼前的冠藍鴉頓時放鬆下來，吱吱喳喳地向老天敵飛撲過去。 「跟我說句情話吧，我會在你唇上燃起烈焰。」 蜂鳥在花園裡翩翩起舞，挑逗嫻靜的白鬱金香和草甸碎米薺。 他家鄉裡那朱紅色的百日菊卻在凋零，苦候他來輕摸。 年邁的蕉樹已難支撐下去。他的頭髮疏落，脊骨破裂。 熾熱的太陽放過了這老人，去了短暫的旅行。 絢麗的大極樂鳥回來見老人最後一面。蕉樹笑了，皺紋消掉。 翻譯自英詩Five Acts Inside the Mirror Bird List 鳥兒名單
Greater Bird of Paradise 大極樂鳥 Blue Jay 冠藍鴉 Pink-necked Green Pigeon 紅頸綠鳩 Common Grackle 普通擬八哥 Scarlet Tanager 猩紅麗唐納雀 Waxwing 太平鳥 Bumblebee Hummingbird 大瑰喉蜂鳥 Sayaca Tanager 灰喉裸鼻雀 Resplendent Quetza 鳳尾綠咬鵑 Swallow 燕子 Marvellous Spatuletail 叉拍尾蜂鳥 |
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White Peacock in the Mirror
鏡中的白孔雀 Ink and color on silk 水墨設色絹本 125 X 72 cm 2014 
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White Peacock
Sebastian Bitticks Useless legends abound. His skin bends light. His flesh holds no blemish. He arrives alone or in the company of a great bird. He dies the very instant he's captured, and silently. Just looking at a white peacock, just seeing him once, will bring a person eternal happiness. They say "look", but the mind races to ownership. He cannot recognize herself in a mirror, so if it's true, it's true for everyone but him. Would he know eternal happiness if he saw it? His hundred eyes are white. The rods that cut light's rainbow came out inwardly bent, meaning blind. We do not see his lameness, only beauty. The peacock, sighted, bluffs with crooked fan. In ancient days, a white peacock meant the spirits had taken notice. They sent a snowy heart and we seized it. Today anything can be purchased. Some people craft peacock-themed wind chimes and weathervanes. Some people carry hand fans with a peacock on its face during nights out. Some people get a tattoo. The white peacock doesn't notice. Inwardly bent, he bluffs and dusts our irises with colors he never had. Passing his reflection, he pecks at the eyes of his image, believing himself a rival. 白孔雀 Sebastian Bitticks 翻譯：梁慧思 充足不缺是無用的傳奇。他的皮毛 輕輕屈摺，他的肉身不帶一點傷疤。 他要麼獨行，要麼同遊 與一巨鳥。卻在捕獲之時 他便死去，且默默無聲。看 一隻白孔雀，那怕只是一看， 也叫人永恆歡欣。他們 口說「看」，其實腦裏已想著佔有。 他認不出鏡裏的她自己， 故此若然屬實，這個除了他對誰都是真的。 如果他看到牠，也會知道何謂永恆歡欣嗎？ 白茫茫是他身上百目。而剪截 光之虹的小棒也曲裏扭彎，即若 目盲。我們不見他的跛足，只見麗影。 那孔雀，不盲，用曲扇虛張聲勢。 從前，白孔雀意味 靈體留意上了。他們傳遞 一顆雪白的心，我們搋著。今天 甚麼都能用錢買到。有人 以孔雀為題，製作風鈴和風標。 有人夜遊時手執扇子， 上面是孔雀。有人在身上刺青。 白孔雀對這些一概不理。曲裏扭彎 他虛張著，用七彩掃淨我們的虹膜， 這事他從未作過。他走過自己的影像， 啄其眼珠，以為那是敵人。 翻譯自英詩White Peacock |
The White Door in Dawn
晨光下的白色大門 Ink and color on silk 水墨設色絹本 140 X 85.5 cm 2014 
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All Animals
Lo Mei Wa The locked door is open to all animals. Black and white, yellow and purple, they are waiting something to change their mind inside or outside the door. The owl inherits his father’s loneliness, and changes the name of felicity on the golden ring as the world spins on, fortifying his faith towards the basics. He will hold on until his knowledge is imagination. But the small warblers and sparrows cannot tolerate his stillness. They flock to compose a mammoth bird of small sprinkled fears, screeching to dismantle his annoying silence. Small torches shine through the cat’s eyes. He measures the distance between the sky under his skin and above the clouds. A dog, wandering, is moved, and gives away his tall body and strong legs for the cat to count the height higher. The locked door is open to all animals. Black or white, yellow or purple, they, behind and before the door, have to prove the location of their garden of birth before they fell onto the bleating world. 所有動物
盧美樺 翻譯：盧美樺 編輯：梁慧思 這鎖上的門對所有動物開放。黑的白的，黃的紫的， 他們在門內或門外 等待一些改變他們想法的事情。 貓頭鷹遺傳了父親的孤獨。世界旋動， 牠在金環上改易幸福之名，加強自己對基本需要的信念。 牠會一直堅持，直至這種知識是虛想。 但那些小鶯和小麻雀不能忍受他的寂靜。 牠們聯群結成巨鳥，內裏遍撒微小的驚恐。 巨鳥尖叫以瓦解他那擾人的靜默。 貓兒雙眼閃出小火把，量度皮毛之下至白雲之上天空的距離。 一頭在遊蕩的狗深受打動，獻出了自己高挑的身體和強壯的雙腿， 好讓貓兒數得更高。 這鎖上的門對所有動物開放。黑或白的，黃或紫的， 他們在門前門後，需要證實落入這咩咩低訴的塵世之前， 出生之園的所在。 翻譯自英詩All Animals Animal List 動物名單
European Robin 歐亞鴝 Common Reed Bunting 蘆鵐 Indigo Bunting 靛彩鵐 Little Bunting小鵐 Grass Warbler 蝗鶯 Black-throated Green Warbler 黑喉綠林鶯 American Yellow Warbler 美洲黃林鶯 Taiwan Bush Warbler 台灣短翅鶯 Common Chaffinch 蒼頭燕雀 American Goldfinch 美洲金翅雀 European Greenfinc 歐金翅雀 House Sparrow 家麻雀 Great Tit 大山雀 Eastern Barn Owl 東方倉鴞 Manx Cat 曼島貓 English Greyhound 格雷伊獵犬 |
Don't Shot the Peacocks
搜捕孔雀圖卷
Ink and colour on paper
水墨設色紙本
220 X 48 cm
2014
搜捕孔雀圖卷
Ink and colour on paper
水墨設色紙本
220 X 48 cm
2014
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A Week of Bravado
Lo Mei Wa Monday: She is scraped enough to stand finally. Her back is held up all straight by his cheap tailcoat and she is strong. Tuesday: She decks out in fresh plucked ostrich hair so that she sees someone else in herself who will be able to steer the two-wheeled cart. Wednesday: Her skin shaved, rein loosened, ostrich flattering, cart not forwarding - she gathers a happiness about a vanished destination in the world. Thursday: The sky, spreads in her dusty thoughts, has stolen a vague drizzle, and a thousand years of clear wind to blot the sun for her to better finalize her loss in a bad weather. Friday: The arrow she nocked will not fly because her index finger has ended in a man. Glittering with dazzling eyes on his skin, he could make her do everything by only one of his furthest moods. Saturday: Men flee from her prowess and no one dares cast back a look at her. Hundred eyes on all skins volunteer to sleep – to be part of the arrow but not her memory. Sunday: Her man is watching outside the range. 逞強的一週 盧美樺 翻譯：盧美樺 編輯：梁慧思 星期一：她終於破碎得站了起來 他那便宜的燕尾服把她的背撐得筆直 她自覺強壯 星期二：她用新鮮採拔的駝鳥羽毛裝扮一番 好使她在自己身上看見另一個人 一個可以操控這兩輪車的人 星期三：她的皮膚刮淨了 韁繩鬆脫了 駝鳥奉承 車子不前 她在收集一種快樂 是關乎一個已從世上消失的目的地 星期四：她塵封的思緒中，天空張開 偷了一陣朦朧細雨 以及往後一千年的清風去窒礙太陽 好讓她在壞天氣中好好總結她的失落 星期五：她上了弦的箭是不會射出的 因為她的食指已落在一個男人裏 那人皮膚上閃動著令人暈眩的眼睛 就是他最遙遠的心情 已能令她獻出一切 星期六：其他男人從她捕獵的姿勢中逃亡 沒有一人敢回頭望她一眼 所有皮囊上百目都自發沉睡 成為箭而非她記憶的一部分 星期日：她的男人在場外觀看 翻譯自英詩A Week of Bravado |
The Forest of Covenants
應許的森林
Ink and color on silk
水墨設色絹本
148 X 49 cm
2014
應許的森林
Ink and color on silk
水墨設色絹本
148 X 49 cm
2014
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Imagine
William Hendricks Imagine earth in greys and muddy tones, A blanket look of dust and cloudy haze. Imagine flatness, stillness, nothing moves, Just one dimension, no perspective here. But then God says to fill the air with song … and flight and motion, joy, diversity. And suddenly the world’s a dif’rent place. Kaleidoscopes of colors fill the air; Cacophony of sounds and voices share. The birds above sing songs of highest praise. Their colors brightly flit from tree to tree; Their feathers paint a rainbow all its own: Bright reds and yellows, green and clear-sky blue Some brown and black, pale purple and soft hues -- A palette filled with every color tint. The colors may, in fact, reflect our lives: The good adventures and the saddest hours -- Unclear until we see the whole design. Each bird’s unique, yet part of something else; A million species, shapes and sizes soar … And hundreds more that swim, and hop, and run. And then imagine God knows ev’ry one; Each sparrow has a place in his vast plan. … and so do you. 想像 William Hendricks 翻譯：羅穎珊 林越慧 編輯：林越慧 想像泥灰色的土地 煙霧瀰漫如覆蓋著舊毛氈 想像那平整、凝定、靜止 平面而無所洞察 而後神說要有歌 飛舞與躍動、歡樂、各式物事填滿虛空 世界就成了另一世界 空白的被萬花筒填滿 寂靜的響起了繁雜 高處的鳥唱起讚歌 斑爛色彩點亮枝頭，飛掠 羽毛描繪出鳥的彩虹 艷紅與明黃，翠綠及靛藍 一點褐與黑、蒼紫、柔和的色相 世間之色盈滿調色板 映視我們的生命 華麗的冒險或是哀傷之刻 朦朧，直止我們得見整個設計 每一隻鳥皆完整，卻同時是部分 百萬種類、形態與大小翱翔 還有數百種會游、跳、與跑 想像神認識所有 每隻麻雀都有祂計劃裡的位置 如同你一樣 翻譯自英詩Imagine Bird List 鳥兒名單 Painted Parakeet 彩鸚哥 Golden-capped Parakeet 金帽鸚哥 Jandaya Parakeet 綠翅金鸚哥 New Zealand parakeet 新西蘭鸚哥 Goldie’s Lorikeet 戈氏鸚鵡 Superb Parrot 靚鸚鵡 Eastern Rosella 澳東玫瑰鸚鵡 Lilac-crowned Amazon 紫冠亞馬遜鸚鵡 Fischer’s Lovebird 費氏牡丹鸚鵡 Military Macaw 軍金剛鸚鵡 Painted Bunting 麗彩鵐 Burrowing parrot 穴鸚哥 Sun Conure 太陽鸚哥 Plum-headed parakeet 紫頭鸚鵡 Moustached parakeet 胡須鸚鵡 Black-throated Mango 黑喉芒果蜂鳥 Brazilian Ruby 紅玉蜂鳥 Gould’s Jewelfront.古氏蜂鳥 Rose-ringed parakeet 玫瑰環鸚鵡 Yellow-bibbed lorry黃兜吸蜜鸚鵡 Rainbow bee-eater 彩虹蜂虎 Nicobar Pigeon 尼柯巴鳩 Brazilian ruby 紅玉蜂鳥 Northern Lapwing小辮鴴 Resplendent Quetza 鳳尾綠咬鵑 Red junglefowl 茶花雞 Golden Pheasant 紅腹錦雞 Mandarin Duck 鴛鴦 Keel-billed Toucan 彩虹巨嘴鳥 Hawk-headed Parrot 鷹頭鸚鵡 Green-winged Macaw 綠翅金剛鸚鵡 Gouldian Finch 胡錦鳥 Eclectus Parrot 大紫紅鸚鵡 Curl-crested aracar 曲冠簇舌巨嘴鳥 Rainbow Lorikeet 虹彩吸蜜鸚鵡 Red-rumped Parrot 紅腰鸚鵡 New Zealand Kea 啄羊鸚鵡 Lorius Cuban Tody Crimson-bellied conure Mini- macaw Wilson's bird-of-paradise |
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Fugui Jili Acrobats
富貴吉利雜技團
Ink and color on silk
水墨設色絹本
95 X 42 cm
2014
富貴吉利雜技團
Ink and color on silk
水墨設色絹本
95 X 42 cm
2014
Details 局部
