吳士偉｜創作自述
三十多年前，在秋冬時分的西湖畔瞥見了一池殘荷，那種枯敗中表現的繁盛又清冷，處處彰顯著生命力與靈秀神韵，美得令人驚豔又耐人尋味，從此殘荷之景深植腦海，從第一次個展開始（民國82年）總有以殘荷為題材的作品陸續發表展出。
有段關於〈殘荷〉的新詩如此寫道：
「在盛開與衰敗之間／在繁榮與落寞之中，我看見了／生命在不同時間，不同形態展現出的／一種別樣的風韵。／陽光下的殘荷，並不淒婉／枯萎的葉片在陽光裡堅守著重生／與希望，固執得像是一個／佈滿滄桑的老人，在榕樹下守望著／年輕的愛情。」
每每在秋冬之際，總在殘荷前佇足良久，那傲岸的頑強身姿，有一種繁華落盡的心境，有一種荷盛開時沒有的美；一支支荷梗蓮蓬優雅矗立著，疏影橫斜、幽香靜謐；使我聯想起冬天的梅花，高潔傲骨代表著文人的風骨節操與人格意境。
雖然歷經世事繁華，待到人生暮年依然有著頑強的生命力，有著對未來的期盼，堅守初心，期待來年生生不息孕育著下一個新的開始。挺立的荷梗也使我想到路易絲．布爾喬亞的大蜘蛛雕塑，那糾結堅強的腳爪傲然獨立的挺著一個身體那麼堅強有力。
殘荷孤獨靜美看似寥落卻有錚錚傲骨，沒有枯敗悲涼而是昂首挺立、樂觀向上，高貴的靈魂不屈的風骨，超凡的意境以及對未來的期盼、幸福與希望。願我能以一筆一墨把自己一生的生命經歷、艱辛挫折與憂煩，化成一片片純靜清幽的世界，以及所嚮往的清淨禪意的筆墨天地。
WU Shi-Wei｜Artist Statement
More than thirty years ago, during an autumn-winter stroll by West Lake, I caught a glimpse of a pond filled with withered lotuses. There was something astonishing about the way decay coexisted with splendor and chill—everywhere, it exuded vitality and an ethereal grace. It was beautiful in a way that stunned me and lingered deep within. From my very first solo exhibition in 1993 onward, the image of the withered lotus has remained a recurring theme in my work.
There is a poem that speaks of these withered lotuses:
“Between blooming and fading,
Amid prosperity and solitude, I saw
Life revealing its unique charm
In different moments, in different forms.
Withered lotuses in sunlight are not sorrowful—
The shriveled leaves persist under the sun,
Holding fast to rebirth and hope,
Like an old soul marked by time,
Waiting beneath a banyan tree
For the return of a youthful love.”
Every autumn and winter, I find myself lingering before withered lotuses. Their upright and resolute forms embody a state of mind—one that blossoms only after the splendor has passed. The lotus stems and pods stand elegantly, casting sparse shadows and radiating a quiet fragrance. They remind me of plum blossoms in winter: noble and proud, symbolic of a literati’s integrity and moral resolve.
Even after experiencing the peaks and valleys of life, I believe there is still a tenacious vitality that remains in one’s later years—a hope for what is yet to come, a steadfast heart that awaits the cycle of renewal. The upright lotus stalks call to mind Louise Bourgeois’ giant spider sculpture, its tangled, powerful legs holding aloft a resilient body—so strong, so defiant.
To me, withered lotuses are not forlorn, but solitary and serene. Beneath their seemingly desolate appearance lies a noble spirit, unbowed and optimistic. There is dignity in that resilience, a transcendence that holds within it a longing for the future—an unwavering hope for renewal and happiness.
With every brushstroke, I strive to transform my life’s experiences—its hardships, struggles, and quiet burdens—into a world of purity and stillness, a realm of ink imbued with the serenity I seek and the quiet Zen spirit I revere.
