SU Wong-shen
From Tamsui in New Taipei to Zuoying in Kaohsiung, the world of images of Taiwanese artist SU Wong-shen (b. 1956) is essentially centered on his home. Beyond the trends of shock-value aesthetics and grand narratives, SU’s works illustrate that an understated humorous tone and quirky artistic expression evolved from regularity is a desirable approach for stirring local identity and establishing a set of local aesthetics.
His distinct bird’s-eye view technique gives an extraordinary visual imagery to his panoramic scenes or narratives. The settings of his work creates a trans-conceptual space, where the various visual variations experienced in flying or soaring impart movement within stillness, and where the center is in all places at all times and any single subject can be the subject of interest.
SU makes frequent use of iconographic symbols, such as animals and trees, while the center of his interest has always been playing with textures. These elements form a habitable and playable perceptual space balanced by a rational allegory and calm tones. Via the actions and composition of the animals, the artist brings the relationship between human beings and their environment to a metaphoric and poetic level.
His artistic accomplishments are ultimately not manifested in the application of trendy concepts or strategic manipulations, but are determined by the employment of alternative thinking and distinctly independent artistic language.
1956 Born in Puzi, Chiayi County, Taiwan
Currently lives and works in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
EDUCATION
1979 B.A., Fine Arts Department, Chinese Cultural University, Taipei, Taiwan
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012 ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
2010 "Post-Utopia" Exhibition of Su Wong-Shen & Li Ming-Tse, 798 Mountain Art Beijing Frank Lin
Art Center, Beijing, China
2008 "Between the Clouds", ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
2006 "Acrobatics Club", ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
2003 ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
2000 ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
1997 "Huwei, Tamsui", ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
1995 Duchamp Gallery, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
1994 Goethe Fort Art Center, Taipei, Taiwan
1993 ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
1991 Ya Te Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan
1989 Tianmu Ceramic Workshop, Taipei, Taiwan
1988 Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
1985 American Cultural Center, Taipei, Taiwan
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2008 "Float", Hong-gah Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
2006 "A Glimpse of Contemporary Art in Taiwan", Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, Taiwan
2005 "City Net Asia 2005", Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea
"2005 Kuandu Extravaganza - Exhibition of Modern Art in Taiwan", Kuandu Museum of
Fine Arts, Taipei, Taiwan
2004 Group Exhibition, Chia-Yi Village of Railway Art, Chiayi, Taiwan
"The Transitional Eighties - Taiwan's Art Breaks New Ground", Taipei Fine Arts Museum,
Taipei, Taiwan
1999 "Wings of the Island", Exhibition of Resident Artists in Niujiao Village of Matsu
(now Fuxin Village), ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
"Landform: The Land on the Mind", National Arts Club, New York; East Gallery of the State
Capitol Galleries, Oklahoma, USA
1998 "Sketch Exhibition - Four Contact", Howard Salon, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
"New Style of Art Creation", Chiayi County Cultural Center, Chiayi, Taiwan
"Portret Van Een Eiland - Hedendaagse Kunst Uit Taiwan", Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts,
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
"New Voices: Contemporary Art Dialogue", Hong Kong Arts Center, Hong Kong, China/
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Museum Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
1997 "Portret Van Een Eiland - Hedendaagse Kunst Uit Taiwan", Centre Cultural et d' Information de
Taipei, Paris, France/ PMMK - Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Oostende, Belgium
"2-28 Memorial Exhibition", Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
"Peep", National Tsinghua University Arts Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan
1996 Taipei Biennial, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
1995 "Taiwan Legends", Gallerie Pierre, Taichung, Taiwan
"Cultural Exhibition", Impressions Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
1994 "Between Imagination and Reality", Up Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
"Four Contemporary Artists in Taiwan", Yokohama Portside Gallery, Yokohama, Japan
"Chitchat of Huwei", Tamsui Center of Arts & Culture, New Taipei City, Taiwan
"Cultural Exhibition", Impressions Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
"Quasi-ink Painting Exhibition", Taiwan Galley, Taipei, Taiwan
"Scrapbook of Artists", Taiwan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
1993 "New Year Special Exhibition", Up Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
"Small Paintings Exhibition", Taiwan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
1992 "Group Exhibition of New Talents", ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
1991 "Tamsui Arts Chronicle", Magnet Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
Duo Exhibition, ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
1990 "Contemporary Drawing Exhibition", ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
1989 Duo Exhibition, ESLITE GALLERY, Taipei, Taiwan
"Taiwan Information Exhibition", Hara Museum of Contemporary Arts, Tokyo, Japan
1988 "The Epoch & Creation Exhibition", Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
"New Prospect Exhibition", Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
1987 Dual Exhibition, New Taipei City Cultural Center, New Taipei City, Taiwan
"Modern Art Exhibition", National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan
1986 "New Prospect Exhibition", Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
1984 "New Prospect Exhibition", Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Dual Exhibition, Sung-yia Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
