The title of Inscribed Plaque owed it inspiration to Taiwanese folk customs of showing congratulation, accolade and appreciation with plaques inscribed with words. Since Kuo tends to critique current affairs with antitheses, we may interpret the Chinese word “plaque” as a homophone of that for “contempt” with a negative meaning.
Mr. X/Ms. Y comprised a series of icons created by the artist himself. Seeming like invertebrates, they are creatures with masks and nimble bodies. The artist used them as indirect allusions to the politicians who fish for fame, curry favor with the public and tyrannize the community, or the mass media that deviate from the script, start rumors to make trouble and do whatever it takes. This series contained many allusions, hence ample room for interpretation.
J. C. Kuo’s oeuvre tends to be sharply critical in style with common and direct artistic expression, addressing contemporary issues (e.g., the gap between haves and have-nots, excessive consumption, religious myths, the decline of traditional cultures, the interpersonal estrangement, and the rampant popular media) arising from the political development after the lifting of martial law and the social change induced by the economic boom in Taiwan.
