Li Tung
An artist crossing many genres, Li Tung works in two- and three-dimensional arts including painting, visual and installation arts, photography, calligraphy, performing art, impromptu dance, stage design, as well as game and multimedia design and creative writing.
Born in 1971 in Taipei, Li was solidly trained in art schools since young age and graduated from the School of Fine Arts at the National Taiwan University of Arts. After a surprising and alarming turn of his health in his late 30s, Li used his experience to revitalize his works and focuses on human body as the inspiration of his creations. Li’s recent paintings reflect his thorough comprehension of surrealism and Pan-Asian arts. As a published novelist, Li is writing dialogues with images to tell stories and communicate with others.
In the past 20 years, Li’s artworks have been exhibited at various galleries in Taiwan, including the Taipei Arts Gallery and YIYU Arts Gallery. He is a member of the “Fifth Moon Group”, Taiwan’s most influential and longstanding artists collective. He is the winner of the Taipei Arts Awards (Taipei Fine Arts Museum) and Nanying Awards (Tainan City Cultural Affairs Bureau). In Vancouver, he has exhibited at the Harmony Arts Festival, Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, Taiwanese & Canadian Arts Series, and Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society Arts Gallery.
As a writer, Li has published in Taiwan and China. His novels have won the Literature and Art Camp Creation Award (Unitas Lifestyle), Taiwan Literature Award (National Museum of Taiwan Literature), New Taipei City Literature Award (New Taipei City), and MWT Essay Award (Mystery Writers of Taiwan).
Since 2010, Li started to perform live painting with improvising musicians and dancers. He joined the acclaimed MAFIA Ensemble, the leading force in Taiwan’s experimental and improvisational arts scene, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary practices. Li has collaborated with numerous Canadian (NOW Society, Orchid Ensemble, Sammy Chien, Chimerik, Sound of Dragon Society, Paul Plimley), Taiwanese, and Japanese artists and has performed at the Western Front, Sound of Dragon Music Festival, Roundhouse, and Taiwan’s Create Music Festival.
Approaches
Although not easily fall into any pre-existing categories, the style of my paintings can be seen as the revival of surrealism in Asian contemporary arts. Surrealism encompasses two different approaches: 1) Abstraction or departure from the reality, as seen in the works of Joan Miró i Ferrà, follows the stream of consciousness in total abstract creations; 2) Figurative Art or representation of the real world, as seen in the works of Salvador Dalí, uses the detailed depiction of realistic objects in surreal environment. My exploration has led me to use the figurative approach while keeping the free spirit in abstract surrealism.
However, the intention of my works is not to revive surrealism. Surrealism has come to me as I seek for the images to best express myself. I see visual arts as a pure form of expression without the need to use words or other media for further explanations. To achieve this, I have to let go of my other instincts as a writer and focus totally on images. Each work is originated purely by images, with no pre-constructed stories, ideas, and contents. But it is not totally random. Each image triggers the next image. At the same time, I carefully position each object, letting it to develop relationships with other elements in the picture. During the creative process, I do not ask why these elements should exist. Let go of any reasoning and let the subconscious take over in decision making. Only after each painting has been completed, I try to understand its meaning. Piece by piece, these works construct various aspects of each theme in my series.
Influences
My works reflect the complex context in which contemporary Taiwanese artists live and work. Under long period of colonization, foreign cultural influences, and commercialization, Taiwan has developed into a state of uniqueness and uncertainty, both culturally and politically. Asian artists tend to incorporate symbols and techniques that are the most characteristic representation of Asian culture in their works when they present themselves to the Western World. But this approach can not satisfy me as an artist. The environment in Taiwan is a hybrid culture with far more diversity. We embody layers and layers of interwoven influences from all directions.
My main influences and interests include Japanese ACG, video games, interactive online games, ukiyo-e, mono-ha, Chinese literature, Japanese literature, calligraphy, Steampunk, Hollywood movies, capitalism, existentialism, postmodernism, science fiction, fantasy, ancient civilizations, mysterious events, human psychology, body development training, symbolism, contact improvisation, conservatory education in fine arts, popular culture, rock `n roll, jazz, poetry, social movements, gender discourse, internet community ecology, and all kinds of subcultures. My works also manifest my own life experiences, memories, visions, fantasies, and traumas. Unable to capture with words, these images are derived from the subconscious, and therefore, naturally connected to surrealism.
Exhibitions
Solo
2019 | We Don’t Hate Monsters | |
Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society Gallery | Vancouver, Canada | |
2019 | The Voice of Time | |
JR House | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2019 | Linescape – 2019 Tacheles | |
Tacheles | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2019 | Writing the Lost Landscape as a Poem | |
MUD Studio | Yilan, Taiwan | |
2018 | Glittering | |
YIYU Arts Center | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2018 | Meet ‧ See | |
Richmond Community Centre – City Centre | Richmond, Canada | |
2018 | Zen in the Square | |
Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society Gallery | Vancouver, Canada | |
2018 | SOUND OF DRAGON Ink Sketch | |
Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre | Vancouver, Canada | |
2016 | SOUND OF DRAGON Ink Sketch | |
Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre | Vancouver, Canada | |
2014 | SOUND OF DRAGON Ink Sketch | |
Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre | Vancouver, Canada | |
2014 | Feminine ‧ Melancholy | |
Joie Éternelle | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2012 | No Models in the Studio | |
Socket Lab | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2011 | Sensual Reading | |
Joie Éternelle | Taipei, Taiwan |
Group
2019 | Harmony Arts Festival | |
Music Box | West Vancouver, Canada | |
2019 | The Fifth Moon Group | |
Dadun Cultural Center | Taichung, Taiwan | |
2019 | The Fifth Moon Group | |
YIYU Arts Center | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2019 | The Fifth Moon Group | |
Chan Liu Art Museum | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2018 | Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Festival | |
Queen Elizabeth Theatre | Vancouver, Canada | |
2018 | North American Artists Invitation Exhibition | |
Culture Centre of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office | Toronto, Canada | |
2018 | Taiwan Annual | |
Taipei Expo Park EXPO Dome | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2018 | The Fifth Moon Group | |
YIYU Arts Center | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2018 | The Fifth Moon Group | |
Chan Liu Art Museum | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2017 | The Fifth Moon Group | |
Chan Liu Art Museum | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2016 | Art Lesson 2.0 | |
Changhua Arts Hall | Changhua, Taiwan | |
2016 | The Fifth Moon Group | |
Chan Liu Art Museum | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2015 | The Fifth Moon Group | |
Chan Liu Art Museum | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2014 | North Coast Art Life | |
Douglas Lapraik & Co. | Tamsui, Taiwan | |
2014 | Retro ‧ Context | |
Chung Shan Creative Hub | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2013 | Before the Very Beginning | |
The Ruins of the Taipei Paper Factory | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2012 | Pocket-size Artworks Party | |
One Year Gallery | Taipei, Taiwan |
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Performing Arts
Live
2019 | The Trajectory of Pulses – The Realization of the Sound Device | |
Empty Theater – producer & performer | ||
Tacheles | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2018 | Phases | |
Empty Theater – producer, director, writer, designer & performer | ||
YIYU Arts Center | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2017 | ART CHAT / ART JAM Ideas Worth Jamming About III | |
MAFIA Ensemble – dancer | ||
Chinyuan Art Space | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2017 | ART CHAT / ART JAM Ideas Worth Jamming About II | |
MAFIA Ensemble – impromptu painting performer & workshop instructor | ||
Guling Street Avant-garde Theater | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2017 | ART CHAT / ART JAM Ideas Worth Jamming About I | |
MAFIA Ensemble – impromptu painting performer | ||
Digital Art Center | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2016 | Light Shadow Fire | |
SOUND OF DRAGON Festival – impromptu painting performer | ||
Western Front | Vancouver, Canada | |
2016 | Improvising East, Enchanting East | |
SOUND OF DRAGON Festival – impromptu painting performer | ||
Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre | Vancouver, Canada | |
2016 | Face | |
Huchia Dance Theater – dancer | ||
Undecorated Taoyuan Railway Pavilion | Taoyuan, Taiwan | |
2014 | Project UAS | |
MAFIA Ensemble – impromptu painting performer | ||
Dongfeng Street Basement | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2014 | The Kinky Beginning of the Fable | |
Avant-garde Theater – producer, director, writer & performer | ||
Chung Shan Creative Hub | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2013 | Strange Concert II | |
MAFIA Ensemble – impromptu painting performer | ||
Tainan Public Hall | Tainan, Taiwan | |
2013 | Strange Concert I | |
MAFIA Ensemble – impromptu painting performer | ||
Tainan Public Hall | Tainan, Taiwan | |
2013 | Before the Very Beginning | |
The Caveman Project – creator & performer | ||
The Ruins of the Taipei Paper Factory | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2012 | The Boundaries of Colors and Voices between Each Other | |
Tokyo-Taipei Improvising Painting-music Relay – impromptu painting performer | ||
Taipei Artist Village | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2011 | Making Sound 2011 | |
MAFIA Ensemble – impromptu painting performer | ||
Nanhai Gallery Reykjavik Lab | Taipei, Taiwan | |
2005 | Night Color Rope | |
BDSM Company Theater – art director & installation art creator | ||
White Water Urban Gallery | Taipei, Taiwan |
Multi-media
2019 | Crossing Mountains & Seas | |
Original character & setting drawings | ||
Port Theatre | Nanaimo, Canada | |
Vancouver Playhouse | Vancouver, Canada | |
2017 | Music of the Heavens | |
Original character & setting drawings | ||
Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts | Kelowna, Canada | |
Norman Rothstein Theatre | Vancouver, Canada |
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Awards
Taipei Arts Awards
by Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Nanying Awards
by Tainan City Cultural Affairs Bureau
Literature and Art Camp Creation Award
by Unitas Lifestyle
Taiwan Literature Award
by National Museum of Taiwan Literature
New Taipei City Literature Award
by New Taipei City
MWT Essay Award
by Mystery Writers of Taiwan
Publications
The Legend, television novel, Sbooker Publications
[ISBN 978-986-7010-64-3]
Black & White, television novel, Sbooker Publications
[ISBN 978-986-7010-95-7]
Romeo & Juliet and Zombies, novel, Sbooker Publications
[ISBN 978-986-6278-38-9]
Experience
Founder of Double12 Art LAB
A studio that mixes art with practical application using a multimedia approach
Founder & Curator of Socket
A theatre consisting of experimental troupes & an experiment platform where there is no boundary between living space and art exhibition, no fixed operator, and is operated in a form of cooperative
Member of North American Artists Association
A studio that mixes art with practical application using a multimedia approach
Member of Western Canada Taiwanese Artist Society
A society formed by Taiwanese painters on the West Coast of Canada that holds exhibitions and art-related events regularly
Member of MAFIA Ensemble
An impromptu performance group formed by artists from a variety contemporary art fields
It has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. In addition to performances, it also engages in promoting and teaching of impromptu art.
Member of The Fifth Moon Group
The oldest and prestigious painting society (over 60 years) in Taiwan aiming to promote innovation of the Taiwanese art circles
Its founding members have become the most respected artists in Taiwan. All the members are invited or recommended by the existing members, not by application.
Editor & Columnist of Apple Daily
A newspaper printed in Taiwan and owned by Hong Kong based Next Digital
Education
National Taiwan University of Arts, School of Fine Arts
Zhongzheng High School, Fine Art Class
Minglun Middle School, Fine Art Class
info@double12.ca
+1-604-765-8166
info@double12.ca
+1-604-765-8166