Taroko Bao Painting

Combining a 刈包 (guabao or pork belly bun) with 太魯閣 (Taroko gorge) may seem like a simple creative flair, but as Jess was painting, she couldn’t help but recall her distinct memories with both. Her parents took her to the Taroko gorge as a child; it’s one of those experiences that she couldn’t appreciate back then and only now wishes to go back in that moment. In her mind, this place is tied to beauty and bittersweetness. As for the bun, Jess remembers the rain and clouds overhead when her family was walking through a market, searching for the comfort of this fatty, delicious snack. Her and her brother stood under their umbrellas while they munched; it almost felt like the contrast of the gloomy weather and indulgence of the bun stopped time for a bit.