2021年 台灣創價學會「行旅山水．蘭陽風采」宜蘭文化會館特展
── 泰 寧 之 間 Amid Peace and Quiet ──
豐饒的蘭陽大地，有著辛勤耕作的農人，以及與牛群在河岸戲水的孩童，讓這片土地顯得更加親和與質樸。陳東元寫實的風格，讓觀者如身歷其境般地飽覽宜蘭的純樸之美。吳炫三的創作，則與在地繽紛多元的族群相互呼應；奔放的線條、鮮艷的色塊交融，透過輕快的色彩與線條節奏，展現蘭陽豐富的文化風采。
The fertile Lanyang plain, with its hard-working farmers and traditional scenes of children playing with water buffalo on the riverbanks, makes this land seem simpler and more friendly. Chen Tung-Yuan’s realistic style allows viewers to enjoy the simple beauty of Yilan as if they were actually on the scene. A-Sun Wu’s creations echo the colorful, diverse ethnic groups of the area; the free lines and bright color blocks blend together, showing the Lanyang Plain’s rich cultural style through brisk color and rhythmic lines.
── 陳東元參展作品 ──
群牛戲水
Herd of Water Buffalo in the Water
2006
油彩、畫布
Oil on canvas
130.3 × 193.9 cm
牛只知辛勤工作不問收穫，默默地奉獻犧牲，是台灣精神的最佳寫照。牛終其一生無日不在勞動，承受無比的重擔，農家為感念其辛勞，都視為家裡一分子，且許多農家家訓終生不食牛肉，而在辛苦工作後到溪流中戲水是牛最喜歡的時刻。驅趕牛隻戲水食草的工作，便成為農家孩童放學回家後的工作，牧童在這時候可以抓泥鰍、拾河蜆、玩遊戲嬉鬧，甚至與牛相互嬉戲，打成 一片。
Because water buffaloes know only hard work, whether the harvest is good or not, and silently sacrifice themselves, they are often considered to be most illustrative of the spirit of Taiwan. Since they work every day and carry incomparable burdens, farmers are grateful for their labor and consider them a part of the family. For this reason, many farmers never eat beef. The water buffalo's happiest moment comes after the day's work is done, when they can relax in a stream. Herding the water buffalo to a nearby stream to graze and enjoy the water is the job of the farmers' children after they get out of school. The herd boys meanwhile can catch mud loach, pick up river clams, play games, and even play together with the water buffalo.
插秧
Transplanting Rice Seedlings
2004
油彩、畫布
Oil on canvas
130.3 × 193.9 cm
插秧最能表現台灣農村忙碌的景致。背景遠山是蘭陽平原的景象。
戲水
Playing in the Water
1998
水彩、紙本
Watercolor on paper
90 × 115 cm
牛只知辛勤工作不問收穫，默默地奉獻犧牲，是台灣精神的最佳寫照。曾在苗栗銅鑼看到許多牛隻在溪中戲水，場面撼人，為讓畫面生動，加入相互嬉戲、捉泥鰍、拾河蜆的孩童。
藝術感言：
臺灣是藝術家的墳場，從事藝術創作是條不歸路，要有守貧的準備。臺灣沒有讓藝術家生存的環境，藝術創作只能當興趣，不能當職業。
藝術的真諦在色彩中求生命的深度與厚度，藝術的過程在技法中求藏巧守拙鋒芒不露，藝術的生命在創作中求真善美與返璞歸真。
每個人頭上各有一片天，各有自己的世界；每個人各有不同的人生，各有自己的道路；每個人經歷不同，各有許多說不完的故事。從自己累積的生活經驗中去尋找靈感，這便是創作之源。
生命在決心死去的一刻點燃，藝術家的事業，是在閉上眼睛之後才開始的，走入歷史後得到的聲名，才是真正的榮耀。