Saturday, July 22, 2006

Opposites / 對比

When I was little, I thought it a universal idea that white skin covers all the defects on one's face. After I spent some time abroad, I learned that it was completely the opposite. For many people outside at least East Asia, getting a suntan is one of the best luxuries that life can offer. Because of different values, I often see this picture on the beaches.

OK, it's me. How can you tell with all my sunglasses, scarf, coat and umbrella?

很小的時候,我對於「一白遮三醜」這句話,毫無存疑。後來出了國,才慢慢發覺外國人多麼熱愛曬太陽,古銅膚色象徵著有錢有閒。近年來去旅行,常在沙灘上看到這樣充滿著強烈對比的圖面。

是啦,是我沒錯。奇怪,我都包得這麼密不透風了,你怎麼還認得出來?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

我跟班上同學去冬山河玩水
也曬好黑
不過我覺得這才是夏天!!:)
btw希望妳可以來我的blog看看
我會放我的畫
但不知道是幾天新增一次囉:P
http://www.wretch.cc/album/album.php?id=rua0112&book=13

Zórdís said...

hi hi, you are so me. Hiding in the shade whilst other take all sun posible. Nice posting!

Marc said...

Mmmm! It's fun to have new illustrations from you! Thanks!

And I don't like to lay down in the sun to get a tan. But it may be because of all the things that my former girlfriend's father told us: he worked at the ministry of health and used to regulate tanning devices. We called him Dr U.V. (Ultra Violet)! :)

claudine hellmuth said...

great take on the theme!

Anonymous said...

Great illustration. I still tan although not as much as when I was younger! Enjoyed looking through your pics of Italy, too.

° said...

nice illo like ur colors and idea

Weichuen You said...

百變小怪獸:你終於給我部落格的link了,本來都是從小金妹那裡去的,不過昨天想找居然找不到,我會上去看的。

Zordis: This is actually kind of complicated. I wanted to be liberated, but the traditional side of me kept whispering that I still have to come back to the world where "whiteness" rules. Well, I struggled all the time on the journey...

Marc: Thank you for coming back. You know, I do not disappear for no reasons but in the meanwhile, I like to keep people guessing:-). You are right. Over-exposure to the sun does do damage to the skin, but in Europe, people do not have so much sunshine all year round like we do in Taiwan. That's why Europeans ADORE summer.

Claudine: Thank you very much!

Kaya: Thanks. Then you'll have to keep coming back because I have tons of stories to tell and I really can't help myself!

Michael: Thank you for coming back again!

Anonymous said...

因為我覺得之前寫的東西都是蠢小孩的發洩文字
不好意思給大人看到:P 哈哈哈
其實有時候我也沒那麼感性啦
還是會有點蠢小孩的潛在性格

carla said...

It's so fascinating to me when I learn how different cultures view things. I think staying out of the sun is best, but I grew up as a real sun-worshipper. Now I have all kinds of freckles I don't want, and I stay out of the sun to keep them from getting worse! I love the really striking contrast in this illo, and I love how you - as always - tell such a story with your images.

constance wong said...

This is very nice and a good take on the theme :) I guess most asian girls prefer to be fair than tan...ha! ha! i was like you there a few years ago and have earned a nickname: Candle Princess! I might melt under the sun!

Serline said...

I like the sun only for the laundry and the plants. Whereas the dogs love to stay out in the afternoon lying on the grass for a few minutes just to ease the itchiness.

Weichuen You said...

百變小美女:你只是個16歲的少女,很正常啦!

Carla: Thanks a lot. I saw the contrast again during my trip this summer and I thought I gotta tell the story:-).

Constance: I didn't think it beautiful to cover oneself up like that, but the truth is, when I didn't do anything to protect my skin, I often regretted later to find the new freckles and spots on my not so beautiful face...Sigh, this is the biggest worry of being a woman...

Serline: I guess dogs don't have to worry about having dark skin right?:-)