Lin’s new series Cinderella derived its title from the classic fairytale. The lonesome girls in Lin’s paintings are placed against unparticular backgrounds with crafted features to highlight the presence of emotions. Innocent eyes and hesitant lips approximate viewers closely, forcing us to consider the entangled, complex thoughts beneath the innocuous exterior. What elements in Cinderella’s story made her special? Was it her beauty, kindness, or the fact that she’s the only one to carry on her father’s bloodline? Regardless, none of these guaranteed her happiness; how much less are our guarantees in reality? When overprotected children become ill equipped to withstand frustration and feel wronged by adversities, will they grow from it or continue to indulge in fairytale, believing they are entitled to better fates? An unbroken heart may be most pure and whole; but without emotional turbulances, unbeknownst to the vicissitude of life, it can come across as cold. Such wholeness is perhaps like a rose grown in a sterile jar, perfect but inevitably snobbish. Is this happiness? Possibly, given the rose never leaves the jar.

Through the “Simulated Realties” series, Lin discusses human relations in the age of the internet. Using cold colors, he paints on canvas glued on wooden panels, rendering fictional dimensions devoid of emotional temperature. The faces in the grayish black monitors seem to care about nothing. People see each other through screens; they see each other clearly, but a sense of being lost still lingers. The fictional possibilities of the internet allow us to dwell in a wider imaginary world, deriving hopes regarding the world, and more importantly, fantasies about ourselves. Like a protective cover, the screen is capable of showing only the filtered or camouflaged self. Images on the monitor seem real, but also partial and segmented. But what is real? If the role and state of being in reality is real, shouldn’t then the imaged self in the fictional world be considered more real, since it reflects closer the innermost desires?

Lin is able to as a spectator analyze in depth the collective state of contemporary society, exposing the many sorts of psychological conflicts. Through peoples’ praises of youth, he sees a young generation with a strong sense of self, but incapable of facing real life challenges. He explores the intimacy and alienation of interpersonal relationships while human beings seek and enjoy the benefits of modern technology. These reflections are from an artist’s glance at the value of life, and hope for a better life. These uncompromising thoughts on life prompted Lin to incessantly question the meaning of existence. Through life experiences and astute observations, he reveals the hidden, changing moods present in contemporary life. His work reminds us also to stop and reconsider the best attitude towards life in our daily pursuits.