Not always a people person
As an anthropologist, Max Liu was like a bird exploring nature, delving into jungles all over the world, from Asia to Africa, from Borneo to Latin America and Oceania.
At 83 years of age, he painted a series of animal paintings-water buffalo, tigers, chimpanzees, Taipei tree frogs, and others-as artwork for Council of Agriculture posters exhorting the public to protect Taiwan wildlife. When activists beheld the posters, they all exclaimed, "These animals are alive and they have dignity." Liu had once enjoyed the blood of the hunt, but due to his understanding of Mother Earth, he turned from hunting to protection, even forming a committee that was dedicated to nature conservation.
Someone once asked Liu what he liked best. Without a second's hesitation, he swiftly responded, "Animals." When asked what he disliked most intensely, Liu's response was, "That kind of animal that walks upright, speaks, and hasn't any hair on its body. Even a jungle snake is politer than the folk in Taipei." Liu not only resembled an aborigine artist, he was like an effervescent animal whose sole aim was to leave the concrete jungle and return to Mother Nature's firm embrace.
African yearnings
From late May through early July, the National Museum of History held Explorer of Art: A Memorial Exhibition of Max Liu. The exhibit featured televised footage of a group of aborigines with their faces brightly painted. With them and similarly decorated was Max Liu, on what turned out to be his final exploration, in Papua New Guinea. In 1993, the year the footage was taken, Liu was a venerable 82 years of age. The videotape showed him tackling a stretch of mountainous road on which he was compelled to rely on the support of a walking stick. While watching the clip, Liu was his typical humorous self, joking around with the folks next to him saying, "What's with this old guy who's taking so long? Wait a minute-I guess it's me, after all. Ha, ha, ha!"
In this two-month trip, Liu visited the Kukukuku tribe and was able to observe their burial rituals. He also visited another tribe that scorned clothing, save for a gourd shaped shell that the men wear on the genitals. Finally, there was the Huli tribe, well known for their love of self-decoration, a feat accomplished by smearing colorful natural dyes on their faces and bodies. "Aboriginal life may seem monotonous, but they can use their imaginations to embellish their lives by creating powerful stories and art," said Liu, who always regarded the aborigines with respect and admiration.
People say that Max Liu was constantly crossing lines, from engineer to artist to anthropologist. However, examining his life in total, one can see that the unflagging string of adventures were all part of the path of self-discovery; it was a road that unpeeled the layers of civilization one at a time, and ultimately led back to the embrace of nature.
While in Africa, Liu observed tribal life in its simple setting and thought, "I don't think civilization can create a paradise on earth. I think in my next life, I would like to be an African child. Only they understand uprightness, strength, and freedom."
"Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die; and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joy of life and the duty of life. Both life and death are parts of the same Great Adventure," states Max Liu's favorite quote, originally from the pen of American president Theodore Roosevelt.
Old Liu has left to explore another world. Or perhaps his wish has been granted and he has already been born into the vast African savannah, embarking on another fulfilling journey. As for us, we can only sift through the over 1000 paintings that he bequeathed to us and search for his hasty footprints.