Shiau Jon Jen
1988 M.F.A., Université de Paris VIII, Paris, France
1979 B.F.A., National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan
Shiau Jon Jen, who received training in academic sculpture during his youth, chose to further his studies in France in 1986, after reaching middle age. During his over five years in France, he worked in the studio of the modern sculpture master Cesar Baldaccini ( 1921-1998), who encouraged him to consciously develop his path as a professional artist. In 1987, while enrolled at the University of Paris VIII, he also obtained the "Professional Artist" residency qualification approved by the French Ministry of Culture.
By the final year of his stay in France, around 1990, Shiau Jon Jen seemed to have a clear understanding of his cultural differences. He shifted his focus from creating more Western-themed sculptures, particularly adept at human figure subjects, to sourcing materials from "nature," using raw wood, especially retaining the original appearance of tree bark and branches. This move reflected a return to the natural philosophy revered in Eastern culture, and he further manipulated the correspondence between virtual and real space in form.
Having spent about six years in Paris, Shiau Jon Jen encountered a lot of Western influences and underwent significant experiences and experiments. While reminiscing about his past, he recalled building a small wooden house by the stream, surrounded by a large grove of pine trees. The impressions and elements of trees became significant sources of inspiration for his earliest forest series. Initially, his language barrier in Paris created a considerable barrier, leading to a sort of self-isolation, resembling a retreat. Recollecting his previous life experiences and environments, the symbol of trees naturally emerged.
From roots, trunks, to branches and leaves, trees have a certain order of growth in nature, but Shiau's forests do not imitate nature's order itself; instead, he recombines and readjusts their order. For example, he might open up a space inside the trunk and place delicate branches inside, allowing the roots to intertwine, forming a new order. He defined it as "my tree." Between the sensuality of the axe and the grinding traces of wood texture, he reveals conceptual consciousness. On the one hand , he preserves the natural forms and textures belonging to "trees," such as wood grain cracks, knots, and burls. On the other hand, within these irregular natural forms, he injects a sense of artificial beauty derived from geometric shapes. This aesthetic balance between nature and artifice becomes a major feature of Shiau Jon Jen's wood carving creations. Within the sensual texture of nature and the rational structure of man-made, the historical or temporal traces of wood grain are deliberately preserved by the artist, while the artificial sense of geometric shapes and spatial composition manifests itself in front of the viewer with an attitude that is neither overbearing nor subservient.
PUBLIC ART
SELECT SOLO EXHIBITIONS ：
2024 Incisive ：Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition，Heyan’er Gallery，BeiJing
2023 Mountain Ridge: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, FuYu Art Hills, Shanghai
2019 Imbalanced Equilibrium: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, Glorious Jewel Art Center,ShangHai/Taipei
Travel in the Spirit World: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, DongLi Gallery, Taipei
2017 Mountain Roam: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, Liang Project Co Space, Shanghai, China
Keep Original: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, Jinshan Haikuo Museum, Shanghai, China 2014 Architect of Nature: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, Phillippe Staib Gallery, Shanghai, China
2013 Shiau Jon Jen Solo exhibition, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei
Shiau Jon Jen New Collection: the Mountain Series, Red Gold Fine Art, Taipei
2008 Transition: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, 99 Degree Art Center, Shanghai, China
Breathing Forest: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, FARADAY, Taipei
2006 The Image of Space: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Sculpture Exhibition, National Museum of China, Beijing, China
2005 From the Mountain: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Exhibition, Jeff Hsu''s Art, Taipei
1994 Relationship of Triangles: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Sculpture Exhibition, Taipei Hanart Gallery, Taipei
1992 My Forest III-Sounds: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Sculpture Exhibition, Jeh San Tang, Taipei
1990 My Forest Series I: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Sculpture Exhibition, St. Louis de la Salpetriere Church, Paris France
My Forest Series II: Shiau Jon Jen Solo Sculpture Exhibition, Kuan-Lin Arts Center, Paris France
1985 First Solo Sculpture Exhibition, Ming-Men Gallery, Taichung
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS ：
2023
The Connection, a duo exhibition by Mou Huan & Shiau Jon Jen, Art Basel Hong Kong, Leo Gallery, Hong Kong
2022 "ENCORE," WS GALLERY, Shanghai, China
2021 Design Shanghai 2021 Art Fair, Leo Gallery, Shanghai, China
2019 Beijing Contemporary Art Expo, Leo Gallery, Shanghai, China
2016 Shiau Jon Jen & Zheng Zaidong, Pusu Art Space, Shanghai
2013 Destruction & Reconstruction: Abstract Sculpture in China, Hubei Museum of Art, Hubei, China
2012 The Expansion of Sediment: Contemporary Taiwanese Sculpture Exhibition, Red Gold Fine Art, Taipei
2011 Annum-Reflection: Welcome to Rabbit Year Exhibition, YUAN+ Art Space, Shanghai, China
2010 Substance&Illusion: Exhibition of Shiau Jon Jen & Lu Jun, Elisabeth de Brabant Art Center, Shanghai, China
2005 Transferred Landscape: Sculpture and Installation from China, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, United States
2004 Encounter: Yuzile Opening Selection of Chinese Contemporary Art, Yuzile Art Space, Beijing, China
2003 Work "Guilin Totem" Entered the 6th Italy Lido International Sculpture and Installation Exhibition
2000 Shanghai Wandering: Joint Exhibition of Shiau Jon Jen, Yu Peng & Cheng Tsai-Tong, Shanghai Darts Gallery, Shanghai, China
1996 1996 Biennial: Subjectivity of Taiwan Art, Taipei Fine Art Museum, Taipei The Heritage & Prospects of Taiwan: The Best of Hanart Gallery, Taipei Hanart Gallery, Taipei
1994 Human View: Asian Artists Joint Exhibition, Busan, Korea
1993 3rd Shuang-Xi Sculpture Joint Exhibition, Jeh San Tang, Taipei
1992 Grand Sculpture Series in Modern Times I: Discovering the Styles: Joint Exhibition, Jeh San Tang, Taipei
1991 Shiau Jon Jen & Ju-Jun: Wood and Stone Sculpture Dual Exhibition, Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong Arts Center, Hong Kong, China
AWARDS ：
2008 "Penetration" was awarded the Best Public Art Award in Santa Ana, CA
2007 Harper''s Bazaar Shanghai South Bank Art Center Charity Art Night, won the Most Valuable
Artist of the Year Award, Shanghai
COLLECTORS & PUBLIC AREA DESIGN
Collectors from around the world including those from China, Taiwan, Europe and the US have been collecting Shiau’s works. Shiau’s works can be found globally such as the Bowers Museum (Santa Ana, US), the National Art Museum of China (Beijing) and the Naera Hotel (Xitang, China), he also participated in the design of public areas such as Chin Pao San (Taiwan), the world-beloved singer Teresa Teng’s Cemetery (Taiwan), Yuzi Paradise (Guilin, China) and Shanghai Yuehu Sculpture Park, etc.
PUBLIC ART
Taiwan
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Teresa Teng Memorial Park, Jinshan
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Chin Pao San Sculpture Park, Jinshan
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Chin Pao San Group
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Ting Hsin International Group
China
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Yuzi Paradise, Guilin
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Moon Lake Park, Shanghai
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Xingtai Group (Inner Mongolia Xingtai Group)
- Naera Hotel Xitang
USA
- Bowers Museum