If I were a snowflake, where would I drift?

If I were a snowflake, how long would I dance in the wind?

The sparkling white snowflakes quietly dance in the wind, glittering with human nature. A gentle breeze blows, sprinkling the sky with a white palette. Iida Kiriko, who comes from the snowy land of Hokkaido, uses keen observation and a purely emotional mindset instead of traditional narrative to discard realism for fantasy. The mysteriously colored living entities display a gorgeous appearance, riding a white legend amidst a cold, endless fog, describing her childhood memories and imaginations, composing a poem of life from a world where people coexist with animals.

In 2008, I saw Iida's work for the first time and couldn't help being highly drawn to the figures. The lovely women with weeping eyes exhibited tranquility, quietude, and a beautiful sorrow. The female portraits of Lady and Blue Dream display Renaissance grandeur, with flowers, grass, and fine feathers curled in their waving hair. The pure, flawless face of Iridescent Stars is anticipating spring and dawn while gazing into the distance, perhaps implying the everlasting nature of the soul. If a painted figure depicts not just the outer appearance but also the soul, then Iida displays the inner world of her characters, skillfully imparting them with Japanese aesthetic style. The thin, flat layers embody fine brush strokes, symbolically interpreting figures. The dreamlike aesthetic of Island of an Island and Floating 2 Forest conveys a reverence for nature, as well as the idea that humans are equal to and share a common origin with all living things. The figures often have clear skin imprinted with images of plants and animals, reemphasizing our coexistence with nature. She invented a kind of expression that represents the times, telling of a legend too great and distant to reach or comprehend. In the freezing cold air, a moment is captured for eternity, enveloped in the limitless vitality of winter, and the picture shows a pair of eyes that have witnessed the vicissitudes of life. Iida's works purify the spirit in a realist word, while also awakening our own roots.

It's been said that the purpose of art is to make up for the emptiness and imperfections of life, but Iida's works display light, hope, and lofty ideals. In 2014, I invited her to accompany me to Old Tait and Co. Merchant House in Tainan, where she curiously observed the wild plants by the side of the road. Then, we toured the Confucius Temple, where she was delighted by squirrels scampering through the trees. It really proved her innocent nature and reverence for the spirit in all living things. From the beginning of her journey toward self-discovery to the pursuit of beauty and idealism, Iida has learned to refine brushwork, use colors gracefully, and develop her overall style. The prophecy of the mysterious primitive forest and ocean declares a beautiful scene of flurrying snow. In the quiet winter night of Hokkaido, one seems to hear the sound of falling snowflakes as they return to the Earth's warm, motherly embrace. It reminds us to learn from the tolerance and inclusiveness of nature toward all living things, and also preserve a spirit of innocence and curiosity, using love to weave a brilliant sky. If I was a snowflake, I'd fearlessly drift toward a new, unknown journey.