“KFJ” (Kentucky Fried Jesus) 肯德基炸耶穌 – 127×97cm- Oil on Canvas, 2010

This painting symbolizes the mystery of the ‘historical’ Jesus Christ, which has been completely buried beneath church tradition. What is worshiped and taught and preached is not the Jesus that was, but the theology of spiritual values to which Jesus has been assigned a historical [...]

“Skinny” 皮包骨 – 71×9cm – Oil on Canvas, 2010

A perfect “Hour Glass” figure – and yet it is obviously distorted and perverse. How thin is ‘too thin’? How much pressure, both internal and external, is put on women to lose weight in order to be considered beautiful? This painting highlights the self-consciousness of ‘bathing suit [...]

“Endangered Species” 瀕臨絕種物種- 117×91cm- Oil on Canvas, 2010

Asian mermaid in a lunchbox, paired with disposable chopsticks. This painting draws attention to the fact that we are literally eating ourselves out of our home, not only by exhausting the natural food supply, but also through our disposable eating habits, which create enormous excesses of waste [...]

“Lamb Chop ” 血浴- 127×97cm- Oil on Canvas, 2010

A.k.a. “Criobolium” – a poor man’s taurobolium; involves the slaughter of a sacred animal, and the ritual bathing in its blood. The death of the animal was supposed to take away sins – it died in the place of a human in order to satiate the bloodthirsty [...]

“Sacrifice” 犧牲- 127×97cm- Oil on Canvas, 2010

Mixed media using real Taiwanese ‘ghost money’. The kid and his dog are dressed up as chickens using the paper money; there’s a happy contrast between the dour, unpleased kid and his dog’s expressions and the surprise of the chicken costume. Mr. KFC is actually a Chinese guy wearing [...]

“Mary Doody” 傀儡- 50×61cm- Oil on Canvas, 2002

Classical ‘Madonna and Child’ by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, but with Jesus as a howdy-doody puppet. Just who is in control of Christianity? It’s masculine forms of hierarchy – the triune male God – have led some to argue there is no place for women within its fold.
Mary alone, in [...]

“Conservation” 對話- 117×81cm- Oil on Canvas, 2009

A bizzare twist on the recycling motif. Taking long hot showers is a comfortable habit of Western indulgence that wastes both water and energy. How many times can the water be cleaned, processed, purged and reused? Will our pursuit of sterilization and personal cleanliness lead to our own [...]

“Horny” 性飢渴- 117×91cm- Oil on Canvas, 2009

An Asian girl clutching the hem of dress coyly, is surrounded by the eager advances of two traditional temple door guards. Trapped in the gender role of sexual provider and dressed for the part, she seeks an alternative position.
一位亞洲女孩羞怯地抓住裙擺，身旁還有兩尊門神熱切求愛。這女孩落入皮條客所設的圈套而穿的跟應召女郎一樣，試圖想要脫離這處境。
Oil on Canvas Surrealism Oil Painting by Derek Murphy www.derekmurphyart.com

“One More Cup” 來一客- 130×180cm- Oil on Canvas, 2009

One More Cup – spinoff from Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Emerging from a cup of instant noodles, holding a pair of chopsticks, this girl represents modern life on this planet. Our ‘fast-food’ culture is quickly destroying our ability to sustain our living – we are consuming ourselves [...]

“Holy day” 神聖日- 97×163cm- Oil on Canvas, 2008

Jesus / Santa Claus provides a conflicting character which both attracts and repels children. With themes of blood sacrifice, guilt and punishment, Christianity is a tough sell for kids. Wearing a Santa Claus hat and giving out candy canes, Jesus tries unsuccessfully to win them over. Based on [...]