Hsiao Pei-I, Animal Volcano, 2014
Gold foil and acrylic on canvas
40 × 40× 4 cm
Condition: Good
Artwork located in Taichung, Taiwan.
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Hsiao Pei-I (Taiwanese, b. 1990), born in Tainan, currently lives and works in Taipei. In 2019, she graduated with a master's degree from the Department of Fine Arts at Taipei National University of the Arts.
The Animal Volcano series adopts a relatively subjective narrative tone, attempting to more directly address the cycle of life and death. Yet, the compositions deliberately present complete mountain forms, using a distant viewpoint to imply a contradictory sense of detachment. The animal corpses in the images are stacked like desserts or toys, forming ghost volcanoes within the shine of pure gold and silver. The darkness of death contrasts with the visual splendor, creating an atmosphere of absurdity that could be called a spectacle. Different compositions within the series seem to document various stages—from volcanic eruption to corpses turning into soil. As if in a sequence of frames, the works metaphorically suggest the destined disappearance of life and the hopeful possibility of rebirth.
(Photographed in June 2025)