On October 12, 2024, Soka Art will once again present a solo exhibition by Hsi Shih-Pin, “Stars and Mythical Beasts”, following “Adventure – Hsi Shih-Pin” at Soka Art Taipei in 2021,. In ancient times, the stars in the sky were used for navigation. Yet, the celestial bodies themselves exist in a multidimensional manner. Their cyclical movements—rising and setting day after day—are not restricted by any perspective. Similarly, the mythical stories of humans transforming into beasts and beasts attempting to revert to human form follow the same cyclical pattern, akin to the artist's process of repeatedly disassembling and reassembling that imbues his works with limitless expansiveness and vitality.

The background of this work is set for an exciting cosmic adventure, featuring a hybrid of a bear’s strength and a rabbit’s agility. Its unique bi-colored crystal eyes allow it to see the past and predict the future. The intricately carved patterns of koi fish, flowers, and flames on its surface symbolize the Bear-Rabbit’s multifaceted identity—as a space explorer, a beast, an athlete, and a well-behaved pet. The piece captures the moment just before the creature springs into action, with its crouched posture, arms pulled back, and eyes fixed forward, all contributing to a sense of pent-up energy. This dynamic form not only showcases beauty in motion but also serves as a metaphor for the spirit of exploration into the unknown. The artist combines rational geometric principles, architectural design, and artistic modeling techniques to create this both realistic and imaginative biological form.

Hsi Shih-Pin excels at blending different materials and textures in his work with each piece serving as an exploration of new visual contexts. This exhibition presents the culmination of years of the artist’s work, built through meticulous attention to detail. In the cyclical process of deconstruction and reassembly, these whole entities once again dissolve into details, and with each reconstruction, a fresh interpretation and perception emerge. This continuous creative energy breathes new life into contemporary art, offering new dimensions of thought.