Tropical Paradise- Joint Boundary by Shin-Pi Chang

Tropical Paradise- Joint Boundary by Shin-Pi Chang

Date｜2021/4/24-5/30

Opening｜4/24 Sat. 15:00

Forum｜4/24 Sat. 15:30

Guest｜ Chih-Wei Huang、 Sheng-Hua Cheng

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【Statement】

Shin-Pi Chang’s 2021 Solo Exhibition, “Tropical Paradise-Joint Boundary” is an extension of his huge art creation “Tropical Paradise” from his 2019 solo exhibition “Superimposition.” Chang has long paid closed attention to Taiwan’s land environment, especially concerning the peninsula climate in the South and the unique geography and ocean current shaped by such climate. This influences the entire industrial structure including the earliest sugar cane industry, to banana, coconut, and betel nut industry, which forms our present tropical landscape. The humidity and temperature alongside the glamorous light variations in the tropical environment build up a “feverish” physical sensation. These environmental elements also influence the artist’s choice of colors and textures during each creating process. Furthermore, the impacts have also reflected the changes in landscape caused by the shift of industrial structure in the South, which led to various social problems.

Lastly, Chang also brings up the concept of joint boundary through this exhibition. Joint boundary (kap-kài in Taiwanese), tells the story of our age. According to legends, the Pingpu tribe planted betel nuts or coconuts at the land boundaries to distinguish ownership. In modern days, although boundaries now have their precise measurements, the roots underground will not stop intertwining or choose sides base on any land boundaries. It is the same with art. In a time like this, there is no such thing as “my art, your art.” Instead, there is a synchronicity within the tasks, perceptions, and even choice of painting languages among artists that influences and connects everyone. Just like how fruits born by the trees at the joint boundaries are shared by the joint owners, everyone should have a share in solving the problems happening here on this land.

【About Shin-Pi Chang】 Sin-Pi Chang was born in 1955 in Pintung county. After completing his education in École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, he worked and lived in Austria and had multiple exhibitions in France, Austria and Germany. In 1993, his exhibition in Taipei Fine Art Museum prompted him to return to his hometown to answer to his true calling and launched the “Art Discovery” project, exploring the connection between art and artists. His journey in search for cultural identity, coupled with the creation ambience and self criticism, was exemplified through his formation of painting, sculpture and art installment. Chang pioneered not only in utilizing decommissioned spaces and buildings but also organizing art groups in the A_mi artist community and were dedicated to art installments related to land and production.

In recent years, Chang has shifted from independent artwork to the mobile art projects of Formosa Wall Painting Group, and eventually to the local cultural awareness movement. His series of artwork in the Island & Islanders, Series of Fishsnipers is a genuine observation and documentation of Taiwan as a motherland. His art depicts the fragmented stories and criticizes with sarcasm how the excessive fish farming has posed threats to the hometown environment.

The alteration of maritime landscape, his own international experiences and cultural identity have all constituted the basic color palette of Chang’s creations. His deliberate selection of emotional subjects and intentional addition of his own sensation have merged to beautiful scenery. In his work, the ocean tends to open up a journey to self exploration and argumentation; on top of the romantic imagery, viewers can definitely discover the implicit affection of Chang to to this Taiwan island.