
Visual Art
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.
My recent works depict a future landscape or parallel universe that has emerged after the fall of human civilization. Environmental issue is not an uncommon theme in contemporary arts. However, I opt to explore the angle that few people are willing to face: What if we have missed the opportunity to stop the inevitable doom? What will happen after our existing world has come to an end?
For many years, various movies, novels, comics, and urban legends have attempted to depict the Post-Anthropocene world. They may approach it with suspicion, fear, concern, avoidance, pursuit, resistance, or expectation. These attempts constitute a huge cryptosystem about the new world. Navigated by my subconsciousness, my works are intertwined with these attempts. With my series, I would like to invite audiences to explore with me this surreal world.
Contemporary arts is increasingly inclined to link with text and requires debates and discussions as part of the appreciation. It has thus become an extension of literature. People have become accustomed to understand the world through words, encoding all forms of expression with words. However, I am more interested in exploring the non-verbal aspects of visual arts. Time after time, the works that no words can describe are the works that have brought life-changing experiences to me. Therefore, I focus on discovering the profoundness in contemporary arts purely in images which are means of expression much more ancient than words. My works aim to evoke audiences to feel directly through the body and the mind.
Solo Exhibitions
2022 | Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society | Vancouver, Canada | |
2022 | Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society | Vancouver, Canada | |
2019 | We Don’t Hate Monsters | Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society | 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 | 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 Exhibitions
2022 | Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society | Vancouver, Canada | |
2022 | Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society | Vancouver, Canada | |
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 | Joie Éternelle | 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 |