Wu Tien-Chang per Taiwan

With an eye to the nature of the exhibition venue Palazzo delle Prigioni as a former prison, this year's Taiwan Pavilion will feature artist Wu Tien-Chang, who will evoke the memories and nostalgia in people's hearts under the title “Never Say Goodbye”. Like ghosts haunting the prison, they refuse to leave, unwilling to let go of the love and hate of this world.

Using mask-like artificial skin membrane, exaggerated and exotic images and a magical visual expression, Wu Tien-chang depicts the life of those in the lower echelons of Taiwanese society and the joys and sorrows of human life. Through spectacular light and sound performances, he evokes the unique spirit of the age and the peculiar mood in Taiwan during the era of post-war westernization. The skin membrane full of sensuous temptation and the dazzling magical effects he uses are capable of instantly attracting the viewer's eye. But despite the gaudy and joyful colours, the marginal characters and ghostly aura of the works remind us of the ugly reality and death, as well as the traumatic experiences that come back to haunt us like ghosts.

WU Tien-chang

Born in Taiwan in 1956. Graduated from the Fine Arts Department of Chinese Culture University in 1980.

In the 80s, Wu used signs, symbols and narratives and combined them with his own interpretation of history to reexamine society, history and politics with two-dimensional paintings. He was seen as a pioneer that broke taboos after the lifting of martial law in Taiwan. In the 90s, he switched to the medium of photography, using mixed media such as shiny velvet cloth, sequins and Christmas lights to create photographic series demonstrating the “TaiKe” (local Taiwanese) aesthetic style.

In early 2000, impressed by the precision, neatness and plastic visual associations of computer images, he started to study and apply digital alteration and compositing techniques. He painted the sets, wrote the scripts, directed the lighting and photography, created props and directed the acting of costumed models, so that the conflicting elements fuse into a chilling and opulent visual style through “staged photography”. Since 2010, he has once again challenged himself, integrating moving images and theatrical space and creating interactive installations featuring a set created with handmade craftsmanship. Through techniques such as one-take shooting, skip frames and high-speed filming, he evokes an uncanny atmosphere through bizarre-looking bodies and an ornamental visual style.

Tien-chang Wu has held several solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions. His works have been shown at biennials in Taiwan (2008, 2014), Taipei (1994, 1996 and 1998) and Venice (1997), at the Fukuoka (1999) and Asia-Pacific Triennials (1996, 1999), at the Centre des arts d'Enghien-les-Bains in France (2007), the K-18 Mutual Acknowledgement Exhibition, Kassel (1992), the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei (2014), the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, the National Art Museum of China (2009), the Taipei Cultural Center, New York (2008), Art Hong Kong, Art Beijing and Art Shanghai (2008 and 2011), international photo festivals in Pingyao in Shanxi province, Guangzhou and Hong Kong (2004, 2007 and 2008), and at the “Contemporary Chinese Photography” exhibition in Prague (2003). Received the New Trend Prize of Contemporary Art Trends (1986) awarded by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, First Prize of the Taipei Biennial of Contemporary Art (1994), the Creation Award of Li Chung-Shun Foundation (1998) and the Jury’s Special Award of the 7th Taishin Arts Awards (2009).

#biennalearte2015