Michael Cherney’s latest series, Within the Gate《其間》, aims to create bilingual art for individuals inhabiting or navigating between cultures. Translating poetry across diverse cultural backgrounds presents distinct challenges, requiring more than literal translation. As a bilingual artist, Cherney’s focus is on preserving the poem's rhythm and essence, adapting certain elements to resonate within a new cultural milieu.

Through this artistic reinterpretation is in calligraphic form, the poetry's beauty transcends linguistic barriers, extending an invitation to a wider, more diverse audience to delve into its depth and resonance. Simultaneously, it provokes contemplation on fostering bridges of mutual understanding and dialogue amidst today's increasingly fragmented cultural landscape.

This piece follows the tradition of commemorating a visit to an esteemed friend/mentor. Here we see the wood and path leading to the Oregon home of Jerome Silbergeld, Professor Emeritus in Chinese Art, Princeton University, who provided great guidance to Michael Cherney on his journey in art. The calligraphy is W. S. Merwin’s “Long Afternoon Light”.

小路 written in sleep in the 山麓

好久以前 and 我以為 you were lost

with the 銅色 then deepening in the 日光

and the shy 苔蘚轉向自己 holding

its own brightness above the 獾的路徑

while a single 烏鴉 sailed 無聲地向西

我們堅信 without giving it a thought

that 我們一直看得見 as we see it

once and that 我們所知道的只是

一瞬間 of what is ours and will stay

我們相信 as the moment slips away

as 拉長的影子 merge 在山谷裡

and a 窗 kindles there like a 第一顆星

what we see again comes to us in secret

Original full English poem:

small roads written in sleep in the foothills

how long ago and I believed you were lost

with the bronze then deepening in the light

and the shy moss turning to itself holding

its own brightness above the badger's path

while a single crow sailed west without a sound

we trust without giving it a thought

that we will always see it as we see it

once and that what we know is only

a moment of what is ours and will stay

we believe it as the moment slips away

as lengthening shadows merge in the valley

and a window kindles there like a first star

what we see again comes to us in secret