Taiwanese photographer CHEN Po-I his first photography works with the simple and Zen-likely “Stone Age” series, showing a humorous and profound micro-world that the artist founded using his acute observation and imagination.
This exhibited works are all traditional black and white gelatin silver prints hand-printed by artist CHEN Po-I.
ART STATEMENT
Complete in 2004, Stone Age was a series of snapshots which were intended to experiment on the possibilities of picturesque photography. Between stones and birds’ droppings thereof, I saw several make-believe images of little prince travelling through different planets. These images reminded me of little prince’s rose and sheep and made me want to transform them with some poetic implications. I would like them to be like ‘Drawing Number One’ that traveled with imagination and sincerity.
ABOUT CHEN, Po-I
Born in 1972 in Chiayi, Chen Po-I received his PhD degree in Ocean Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan (2018).
As a photographer, Chen’s works concern the humanities and social aspects of Taiwan, using his lens to connect himself with the greater context of Taiwanese society. With this, his photographs have the power to express the collective memories of Taiwan.
His photographic works are frequently invited for exhibitions, recently include The Pioneers of Taiwanese Artists, 1971-1980 (The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, 2014)), Lendemain Chagrin (Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 2016), Kau-Puê, Mutual Companionship in Near Future: 2017 Soulangh International Contemporary Art Festival , (Soulangh Cultural Park, 2017) , Tell Me a Story: Locality and Narrative (Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Italy, 2018).
At this moment, Chen is actively engaged in the photography education and also works as a curator of Tainan International Foto Festival. Some of his photographic works now become the permanent collection at National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (Taiwan), Museum of Fine Arts, Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts (Japan), Maison Européenne de la Photographie (France) and are also collected by private collectors.
CHEN, Po-I: Stone Age
Date｜2023.4.08-2023.5.14
Opening｜2023.4.08 (六) 14:30-17:00
Curated by│Edward, I-Chien CHIU (Tokyo University of the Arts, phD)
Organized by｜1839 Contemporary Gallery
TEL│02-2778 8458
Open hours│Tue.-Sun. 11:00-19:00