CHEN Chien-Jung was born in Taipei,Taiwan. He graduated from the Fine Arts Department, Taipei National University of the Arts , and acquired a master’s degree from the Graduate Institute of Plastic Arts, Tainan National University of the Arts. Chen bagged the Golden Prize in Drawing from “The 11th International Biennial Print and Drawing Exhibition R.O.C.” in 2003. He is also the winner of “The 10th Visual Arts Prize of Li Chun-shan Foundation” in 2007, “Kaohsiung Prize”in 2001 , and“Taipei Prize”in 1997.
Chen’s paintings are unique, for they suggest a state of “specious ambiguity.” He is known for his manipulation of mixed architectural forms and reflection on the “two-dimensional” treatment of painting surface. Chen’s explorations of spatial structure can be seen as the byproducts of construction and deconstruction as well as drawing and erasing. His works create a spatial ambiguity that interweaves his architectural ideals with the unexpected, spontaneous and often imperfect traces of everyday life. Throughout the creative process, Chen repeatedly includes subtle subversions of material, color and object, where physicality, technique and meaning accumulate and converge.
Landscape and Aircraft series feature scenery that the artist has foreseen and the situations that play out in his mind. In addition to urban scenes and artificial mechanical objects, some of Chen’s works are based on structures created while painting, a few sculptures shaped like houses, or references to shapes by well-known artists. Although the works always elicit “seeming” images of urban civilization in the spectator’s mind, these architectural spaces form a starting point of visual language rather than serving as a motif. During the organic painting process, the motion of the hand becomes a vital quality through its dependence on or imitation of paint tools (found wooden sticks, rulers with blurry marks, repeatedly used masking tapes, etc.). . These are also like the artist's re-questioning about visible form and structure before he transforms this questioning process of uncertainty into an abstract perceptual form.
CHEN , Chien-Jung
Born in Taipei ,Taiwan ,1972.
National Institute of the Arts, dept. of Fine Arts, Taipei ,Taiwan , B.F.A., 1995.
Tainan National College of the Arts , Graduate Institute of Plastic Arts , Tainan ,Taiwan , M.F.A., 2001.
Lives and works in Taipei.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 Pictures from Elsewhere , Moon Gallery , Taichung .
2022 Fāng Fāng , Double Square Gallery , Taipei .
2021 Finders Keepers , Taipei Fine Arts Museum , Taipei .
2018 Defection from Definition , Project Fulfill Art Space , Taipei .
2017 Well-Lighted Rooms , Project Fulfill Art Space , Taipei .
2015 Decontextualization of Production , Xue Xue Green , Taipei .
2014 Frozen Music , Tosee Art Agency co., Taipei .
2014 Frozen Music , NCU Art Center , Taoyuan.
2013 Paradoxically , Tosee Art Agency co., Taipei .
2011 A Block , IT Park Gallery , Taipei .
2011 Solo Exhibition 2011 , Shijie Gallery , Taichung .
2010 Sky Blue × Landscape , Taipei Fine Arts Museum , Taipei .
2010 Solo Exhibition 2010 , Ke-Yuan Gallery , Taichung .
2009 Solo Exhibition 2009 , Tosee Art Agency co., Taipei .
2008 Solo Exhibition 2008 , Ke-Yuan Gallery , Taichung .
2007 Solo Exhibition 2007 , VT ARTSalon , Taipei .
2006 Solo Exhibition 2006 , Ke-Yuan Gallery , Taichung .
2006 Recent Paintings , Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts , Taipei .
2004 Solo Exhibition 07 , Prototype Art , Tainan .
2004 Reconstruction , Ke-Yuan Gallery , Taichung .
2003 I Heard You Looking , Tamsui Center of Arts and Culture , Taipei .
2003 Peintures Récentes , Cité Internationale des Arts , Paris .
2001 Lo-Fi , Ke-Yuan Gallery , Taichung .
2000 Solo Exhibition 2000 , American Cultural Center , Taipei .
1999 Employ Spirituality , Prototype Art , Tainan .
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 The Line, the Borderline, and the Floating boundary , Chiayi Art Museum, Chiayi .
2023 Our Time , National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2023 Similarities , San Gallery , Tainan .
2022 Life Experience , T.K.U. Art Center , Taipei.
2023 Papahood , Taoyuan Children’s Art Center , Taoyuan.
2023 Synchronic Predications from Various Alternative Paintings , MR.WING
Gallery, Taichung .
2021 Scenery in Mock-up , Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts , Taipei .
2021 The 2021 Sovereign Asian Art Prize , Art Central , HK.
2021 ART TAIPEI 2021 , Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei .
2021 The 29th Asian International Art Exhibition JAPAN, Kyushu Arts and Cultural Center , Fukuoka , Japan.
2020 Taipei Dangdai Art Fair , Nangang Exhibition Center , Taipei.
2020 Swinging Wind , Ask Art Space , Taipei .
2019 Taipei Dangdai Art Fair , Nangang Exhibition Center , Taipei.
2019 Art Jakarta Art Fair , JCC Senayan , Jakarta
2019 Sui Generis: Jing-Pai of Taiwan , IT Park Gallery , Taipei .
2018 Art Basel Hong Kong 2018 , Hong Kong Convention and exhibition Centre, HK .
2018 TAIWAN in Full Bloom – Contemporary Arts of TAIWAN, ION ART , SINGAPORE
2017 Art Basel Hong Kong 2017 , Hong Kong Convention and exhibition Centre, HK .
2017 A Room , THE 201 ART , Taichung .
2017 Very Period , VT ARTSalon , Taipei .
2016 Rivers – The Way of Living in Transition , Gwangju Art Museum, Gwangju , Korea .
2017 Scope New York 2016 International contemporary art show , New York .
2017 Transition of Times , Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts , Kaohsiung .
2015 Rivers – The Way of Living in Transition , Pier-2 Art Center , Kaohsiung .
2015 IT Park Limited Editions , IT Park Gallery , Taipei .
2014 The Pioneers of Taiwanese Artists, 1971-1980 , National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2014 Follow the Lines on a Journey , National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2014 CIGE 2014 , China National Convention Center , Beijing .
2014 Artshow Busan 2014 , Exhibition Hall 2, BEXCO , Busan .
2014 What we are mapping , Pier-2 Art Center , Kaohsiung .
2013 Intersecting Vector : Me at Liu’s Home , Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei .
2013 Ever After , IT Park Gallery , Taipei .
2013 The Journey , KUGallery , Taipei .
2013 Citizen Art Shanghai 2013 , Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel ,Shanghai .
2012 No One to Hear You Scream , Saamlung Gallery , HK .
2012 Landscape , Tenri Cultural Institute , New York .
2012 Yes Taiwan－2012 Taiwan Biennial Exhibit , National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2012 Manifestation of Homunculi , Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts , Taipei .
2011 City Equations , Yu Hsiu Art Space , NHCUE , Hsinchu .
2011 Y.E.S Taiwan III , Aki Gallery, Taipei .
2010 ART TAIPEI 2010 , Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei .
2010 Feeling and Form - Contemporary Taiwanese Painting , Sakshi Gallery , Taipei .
2010 Continuation – Special Exhibition of LI Chun-Shen Modern Painting Award 2010 Winners , National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2010 Beyond Vision , National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2009 Contemporary Value－A processing History , Ever Harvest Art Gallery , Taipei .
2009 Local Scenery, Ke-Yuan Gallery, Taichung
2008 Open City: Architecture in Art , Taipei Fine Arts Museum , Taipei .
2008 The Empire Strikes Back – Episode III / The Phantom Menace , Impressions Contemporary , Taipei .
2008 Sweeties , IT Park , Taipei .
2008 Lines, by the 7th Gendres , DuBang Contemporary Space. , San-Yi .
2008 The 10th Visual Arts Prize of Li Chun-shan Foundation , NCKU Art Center , Tainan.
2007 Shanghai Art Fair , Shanghaimart , Shanghai , China .
2007 Dare to Art-The Genealogy of TNUA Fine Arts College , Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts ,Taipei .
2007 Come Together , CYCU Art Center , Taoyuan.
2006 Exhibition of New Perspective Art Taiwan , Taichung County Seaport Art Center , Taichung .
2006 Meditation in Feeble Light , Safulak Art Village , Hsinchu .
2005 Art of the "E" Generation in Taiwan , National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2005 Scylla and Charybdis in Love: The Challenges Facing Contemporary
2005 Taiwanese Artists , Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei, Taiwan .
2005 Depth of Space , Gallery Su , Taipei .
2005 Kuandu Extravaganza: Exhibition of Modern Art in Taiwan , Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts ,Taipei .
2004 Scylla and Charybdis in Love: The Challenges Facing Contemporary Taiwanese Artists , National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung , Gwangju Art Museum, Gwangju , Korea .
2004 The 11th International Biennial Print and Drawing Exhibition R.O.C., National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2004 Depth of Surface , Main Trend Gallery , Taipei .
2004 Tile Project, Destination: The World , Taipei and 20 international sites
2003 Intershop Südstattsüd , Karlsruhe Südstattsüd , Karlsruhe , Germany.
2003 Exposition Collective 2003 , Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France .
2002 Chain - Nomads．Rally , Huashan Arts District , Taipei .
2002 Rising Force – Safulak Art Festival, Safulak Art Village , Hsinchu .
2002 2002 Tainan Biennial , Tainan Municipal Art Center , Tainan .
2001 “New Minds”, Artist Creations in Motion , Taipei Fine Arts Museum , Taipei .
2001 Fine Arts Prize of The Rotary of Taipei Tunghua , Taipei Art Fair ,Taipei .
2001 Concealed Movement , Paint Shop Gallery , Tainan .
2000 Random Door , Kuo Mu Sheng Foundation Art Center , Taipei .
2000 New Stars 2000 , Ke-Yuan Gallery , Taichung .
1999 Resplendent Years , Prototype Art , New Heart Life Art Center , Tainan .
1999 Songs of Tachi , gallery of TNCA, Tainan .
1997 The 8th International Biennial Print and Drawing Exhibition R.O.C. , Taipei
Fine Arts Museum , Taipei .
1996 The 23th Taipei Annual Arts Competition , Taipei Fine Arts Museum , Taipei .
1994 Shifts of Light , Jazz Photo Gallery , Taipei .
1994 Mini Sculptures Exhibition , Arp Gallery , Kaohsiung .
1994 International Print Exhibt：“Taipei .New York .Tokyo , Library of NIA , Taipei .
1994 Exhibition of Seven Guantu Artists , Tamsui Center of Arts and Culture , Taipei .
AWARDS AND HONORS
2021 The 2021 Sovereign Asian Art Prize , Finalist , HK.
2007 “The 10th Visual Arts Prize of Li Chun-shan Foundation” by Li Chun-shan Foundation
2004 ‘‘Golden Prize in Drawing ”of “The 11th International Biennial Print and
Drawing Exhibition R.O.C.”, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts , Taichung .
2002 Artist- in- residence at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris , FRANCE.
2001 ‘‘Kaohsiung Prize”of“The 18th Kaohsiung Fine Arts Exhibition”, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts , Kaohsiung .
2001 ‘‘Fine Arts Prize” of The Rotary of Taipei Tunghua.
2000 Artist- in- residence at the International Studio and Curatrial Program in New York , a program of The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts .
1999 “Honorable Mention Artist”, selected by Vermont Studio Center ,U.S .
1997 “Taipei Prize”of “The 24th Taipei Annual Arts Competition”, Taipei Fine Arts Museum , Taipei .
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHEN Hsi , “Painting Jamming: Interactivity between Painting and Technical Images
in the Works of Chen Chien-Jung” ,
https://reurl.cc/ymRK4a , 2022.11
CHEN Kuan-Yu , “The “Semi-forgotten” Life of Picture—A Few Thoughts on
Chen Chien-Jung’s Painting” , Finders Keepers : CHEN,
Chien-jung Solo Exhibition ,Taipei：Taipei Fine Arts Museum,
p. 12-21, 2021.7
SU Yu-an, “Flickering and Shifting Viewpoints: On Chen Chien-Jung’s Finders
Keepers” , MODERN ART No.201 , p.13-17 , Taipei：Taipei Fine Arts
Museum , 2021.6
HSIAO Chong-Ray, “Humanistic Manifestation of the Artificial Nature—The Poetic Charm of Chien-Jung Chen’s Rebellious Artworks” , Artist Magazine, No.501, p.202-205, 2017.2 / CHEN, Chien-jung Selections 2015-2019, Taipei：Project Fulfill Art Space, p.58-60, 2019.12
Chang Yu-Yin , “Punctuated Scavenger and Everyday Affirmations: Chen Chien-Jung’s
Quiet Resistance”, CHEN, Chien-jung Selections 2015-2019, Taipei：Project Fulfill Art Space, p.8-11, 2019.12
Emerson Wang , “The Tendency to a new Factor in Human Condition” , Frozen
Music–CHEN, Chien-jung , Taipei：Tosee Arts Agency co., p.11-17,
2015.8
KAO Tzu-chin, “Bounded rationality---Solo Exhibition of CHEN Chien-jung”, Art
Today , No. 253 , p.212-213, 2013.10 / Frozen Music -CHEN,
Chien-jung, Taipei：Tosee Arts Agency co., p. 95-99 ,2015.8
CHANG Ching-Wen, “(Urban) Landscapes: Reading the Works of Chen Chien-Jung” , CHEN, Chien-jung Selections 2007-2010, Taipei：Taipei Fine Arts Museum, p.4-7, 2010.3 / Chinese Contemporary Art News , No. 64, p. 134-138 , 2010.5
YU Wei, “Reflections on CHEN Chien-jung ’s Paintings” , CHEN, Chien-jung Selections 2001-2006, Taichung：Ke-Yuan Gallery, p.4-7, 2006.10
HSU Wan-jeng, “A Scavenger of Balanced Multi-dimensional Traces-- Chien-jung Chen vs. Abstract Painting” , Artist Magazine, No.351, p.366-371, 2004.8
CHIANG Ming-chen, “Ambiguous Space of Metaphor---Solo Exhibition of CHEN Chien-jung”, Art Today , p.44, 2004.7
CHANG Ching-Wen, “In The State of Waiting for an Answer—Viewing Chen Chien-Jung’s work”, Artist Magazine, No.343, p.562, 2003.12 / ArTop , No. 22, p. 93-94 , 2004.4
HSU Yuan-dah, “Introspection of Instinct and Breeding—About CHEN Chien-jung’s Lo-Fi”, Artist Magazine, No.318, p.559 , 2001.11
HSUEH Ava , “Reality between Interval: On CHEN Chien-jung’s Paintings”, 2001 Fine Arts Prize of The Rotary of Taipei Tunghua , Taipei : The Rotary of Taipei Tunghua , p.7, 2001.10
WU Ping-hsuan, “Floating between Artificial and Spiritual World”, New Stars 2000 , Taichung：Ke-Yuan Gallery , 2000 , p.15 / Artist Magazine, No.300 , p.499, 2000.5
COLLECTIONS
Ministry of Culture , Taiwan
Council for Cultural Affairs of Taiwan
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
Taipei Fine Arts Museum , Taipei, Taiwan
Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts , Kaohsiung , Taiwan
Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts , Taoyuan , Taiwan
Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts , Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei National University of the Arts, Taipei, Taiwan
The Rotary of Taipei Tunghua, Taipei, Taiwan