Colors That Blind the Eye

The Chinese have always preferred plain things, and their attitude toward colors shows this. Lao-tze said in the Tao Te Ching, "The five colors blind the eye."

Hao Cheng-tai is a young photographer with three years of experience, whose sensitivity to color enables him to see qualities in everyday objects which are missed by others. He uses his camera to express his ideas in photo essays.

Last month Sinorama featured an article on colors in traditional Chinese architecture, entitled "Colors and Art in Old Temples." This month the photo essay is based on everyday street scenes.

Hao Cheng-tai breaks through customary ways of viewing objects by separating color from form. Here he has photographed parts of billboards; the outlines of a car, a door, and a wall; a sheet of rusted iron against a wall. . . .

Some people find his work to be very familiar, while others feel it is very abstract. But once it is realized that his work is based entirely on mundane objects, almost everyone is surprised, "Are the colors we are so used to seeing really this beautiful?" people ask.

[Picture Caption]

1) Photographic art from simple materials--a blue container set against the white and red of a car. 2) Part of a billboard. 3) A rain-splattered car roof juxtaposed against a wall and a door, makes a work of art.

1) Weather-beaten wall. 2) An earthen wall. 3) Contrast between a yellow car roof and a red billboard. 4) Rusty iron sheet set against a wall. 5) Old bamboo fence. 6) Part of a billboard.

1) The photographer does not know the story behind this paint-covered wall, but he records the mystery with his camera. 2) Bricks can be seen as the concrete falls from this wall. 3) What is the sad story behind this red door? 4) Paint carelessly dripped on a black-topped road spread by the rain.

Part of a billboard.

A rain-splattered car roof juxtaposed against a wall and a door, makes a work of art.

Weather-beaten wall.

Rusty iron sheet set against a wall.

Old bamboo fence.

An earthen wall.

Contrast between a yellow car roof and a red billboard.

Part of a billboard.

The photographer does not know the story behind this paint-covered wall, but he records the mystery with his camera.

Bricks can be seen as the concrete falls from this wall.

What is the sad story behind this red door?

Paint carelessly dripped on a black-topped road spread by the rain.