Artist Statement

This solo exhibition "Transition/ Mapping’ has two themes. One theme is explored through paintings that imagine my uncertain future, and that depict my observations of the Australian contemporary art scene during my stay in Melbourne (2007-2010) The second theme is depicted through paintings and text works that reflect my artist-in-residency experience at the Glenfiddich distillery in Scotland (2010).

Through these two themes, I wanted to express my ‘transitional’ experience of living in Melbourne and Scotland. I created these works by
using various local maps -- a process which I describe as ‘mapping.’ In addition to its literal meaning, mapping can also be associated with its original idea. a process of correspondence whereby a system of signs, the signifiers. refers to a destination set, the signified which corresponds to the journey of my artistic exploration.

I believe every stage of life is important and meaningful. Through my mapping of these ‘transitional’ periods, I have not only gained understanding of new people and things, but have also re-discovered myself. The exhibition ‘Transition I Mapping’ is the outcome of my exploration of my inner self and of the outside world at the specificilities of time and place mentioned above.

Feb.19 1976, Born in Penghu, Taiwan
1999 BFA. Taipei National University of the Arts, Taipei, Taiwan
2001 MFA, Pratt Institute, New York, USA
2009 Doctor of Fine Arts, RM IT University. Melbourne

Solo Exhibitions

2010 IT Park Gallery, Taipei
2009 SNO Contemporary Art Projects, Sydney
2009 Immersion Therapy Art Space, Melbourne
2008 Apartment Gallery. Melbourne
2006 Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei
2005 Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Taipei
2003 Paint House Gallery. Tainan
2002 Wen Hsin Gallery, Penghu
2001 Steuben West Gallery. Pratt Institute. New York

Selected Group Exhibitions

2010 Variations of Geometric Abstraction in Taiwan's Contemporary Art, Eslite Gallery, Taipei
2010 Artists at Glenfiddich. Glenfiddich Distillery Gallery, Dufftown
2010 Is What is. Stephen McLaughIan Gallery. Melbourne
2009 Local Scenery. Ke-Yuan Gallery, Taichung
2009 Abstraction, Stephen McLaugh|an Gallery, Melbourne
2008 Findings, curated by Lesley Duxbury and Lisa Byrne, RMIT School of Art Gallery. Melbourne
2008 Decor, curated by David O'Halloran. Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Melbourne
2007 Siemens File Art Award, RMIT Gallery, Melbourne
2007 A Runaway Zero, curated by Yaji Huang, CANS Art Space, Shanghai
2006 Print-Thology, Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei
2006 Ke Yuan New Star, Ke Yuan Gallery. Taichung
2005 4th Tokyo International Mini-Print Triennial. Tama Art University Museum, Tokyo
2005 Kuandu Extravaganza, Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei
2004 Scylla and Charybdis in Love. curated by Teh-I Chu. National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung. Traveled to Gwangju Art Museum, Gwangju
2004 Depth of Surface, curated by Ching-Wen Chang, Main Trend Gallery, Taipei
2003 Family Plan, Paint House Gallery, Tainan
2002 CO2 Taiwan Avant-Garde Documenta. NTTC Art Center, Taipei
2002 Beyond the Lines. Taipei Artist Village, Taipei
2002 Reactions. Exit Art, New York
2001 Pratt MFA. curated by Charlotta Kotik, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York
2000 23rd Small Works, curated by Tricia Collins, 60 Washington Square East Galleries, New York

Artist Residencies

2010 Artists at Glenfiddich 10, The Glenfiddich Distillery. Dufltown, Scotland
2005 18th Street Arts Center. Los Angeles
2002 Taipei Artist Village, Taipei

Personal Website Link: http://www.shiaupengchen.com/index2.html