A World of Wonders Condensed from Geometry and Color: The Solo Exhibition "Chen Shiming → Vertical Exploration of Context"

Written and reported by Chen Guanxin

The solo exhibition "Chen Shiming → Vertical Exploration of Context" is on display at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum from now until June 17, and a talk titled "Vertical Exploration of Context: Chen Shiming's World of Wonders" is scheduled for 2:30 PM on April 7 in the auditorium on the basement level of TFAM, where he will share his life experiences and artistic journey spanning over 30 years.

Born in Changhua, Taiwan, Chen Shiming studied under senior artists such as Li Zefan, Hong Ruilin, Yang Sanlang, Li Meishu, and Chen Jingrong, and furthered his education at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, Spain. After returning to Taiwan from Madrid, he rose to prominence in Taiwan’s art scene in the 1980s. His early works were mainly divided into two series: figurative pencil sketches and abstract geometric color-block paintings.

By 2004, after receiving a digital camera and camcorder as gifts from friends, Chen Shiming’s paintbrush was transformed into a digital camera, and he subsequently devoted himself to digital imaging. During this period, his works consisted of dozens or even hundreds of overlapping photographs, capturing subjects ranging from natural landscapes to architecture and urban scenes. He focused on easily overlooked aspects of daily life and the reality of the moment, and using his consistent artistic language, reassembled fragmented images into geometric shapes such as rectangles, circles, ovals, and irregular forms, creating another visually rich, captivating, and vibrantly colorful world of wonders.

This exhibition "Chen Shiming → Vertical Exploration of Context" features a selection of 48 (sets of) works created between 1979 and 2011, including drawings, ink paintings, mixed media, and photographic images, with a focus on his recent photographic works. The subjects cover a wide range, including nature, scenery, architecture, and urban trends. For more details, visit the Taipei Fine Arts Museum website: www.tfam.museum.

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