CHENG-YEN PORTFOLIO

|2017- 2021|

T R A E

FIN

Selfdisciplined

Networking

Critical thinking

Socialize

Thinking differently

Widely Reading

Flexibility

Endurance

Sensitivity

Selfmarketing

Skills

Planning

Visiting exhibitions

Thought

Music

Insight

Spirit Belief

Dare to try

Independent thinking

Journey

Daily life

Meditation

Learn modestly

Confidence

Dare to fail

Leadership Communication

Cryptography

History

Youtuber

Skills

Thought

Spirit Belief

Mountain climbing

Quality time

Culinary

Languages

Transdiscipli nary

Philosophy

Transdisciplin ary

ART

Passion

Explore nature

Passion

Stay the course

Materiology

Curation

Design

Luck

Environment

Creativity

Collect

Polite

Public awareness

Commercial activities

Diversity Inclusion

Environment

Resources

Cultures

Opportunities

Broaden horizon

Look after Feel grateful others

| Y U C H EN G Y EN |

Empathy

Luck

Think positive

Be supportive responsible

Pick up trash

Building trust

Education

Out of Comfort Zone

Horticulture Photography

Stay curious

Read across genres

Relax

Creativity

Break boundaries

Promote trial and error

Be patient

Practice Self Care

R O P

I L O TF

O

I n tro d uc tio n 1. S ol o E x h ib i tio n - S tar t with wh y 2. Wate rco l or 3. Ha n dm a de p ap er (N atu ral ma ter ia ls ) -Lo c ati on

CONTENTS

4. Cy a no ty p e (M en -m a de m at eri al s )- T im e 5. L i ne (E m o tio n ) 6. I te m (Co n n ecti on - Lo cat io n ) 7. P ro je ct- I & I I 8. P ro je ct - I I I & I V 9. De tai ls 10 . I ns p i rat io n

Natural Secret: Cheng Yen Journey

I grew up in a city located between mountains and the sea and have been immersed in nature since I was young, so that is the main source of my initial inspiration and idea formation.

By observing and depicting the structures and shapes of various animals and plants in nature, or collecting unique materials from the wild, natural inspirations have always had a profound impact on my creativity. Taking nature as a teacher allows me to realize the cycle of time sequence of all things, and the flow of life and prosperity. Through the integration of heart and nature, I can inject life and spirit into my creations, and develop condensed works with a more spiritual temperament.

Even though my life is busy, I am still keen to invest time in establishing a connection between the individual and the natural spirit, brewing the poetic and tranquil feelings I John Dewey (1859-1952) believed in ‘Art and Experience’ and that

pursue and desire.

aesthetic experience can be recognized in daily experience, from events and the environment. This is also what I believe.

Introduction: My portfolio consists of ten parts, describing issues that I have considered and explored at different stages. Taking a solo exhibition and watercolors as my starting point, I tried to create a presentation with a conception process that developed step-by-step and explored the various possibilities of media and ready-mades which may become the focus of this journey.

The process of dissecting the carcass of a wild deer, making specimens, and collecting different parts of the body as media.

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01

S O LO EX H I B I T I O N Watercolor paintings collection from 2015 - 2020

｜Wate rcolor Co

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE Simon Sinek's theory is that successfully communicating the passion behind the 'Why' is a way to communicate with the listener's limbic brain, so ’Start With Why' is how you explain your purpose and the reason you exist and behave as you do.

WHAT I Do?

WHAT HOW

1. Working in watercolor, ink painting, sketch, design, handmade paper, photography…)

2. Countries I has been to (Japan, Italy, Turkey, Honk Kong, Xinjiang)

For the first solo exhibition, all watercolor works were collected. For a long time, watercolor had been the medium that dominated my creations. This solo exhibition was a phased beginning and end. In the process of preparing solo exhibitions and sharing work with the public, many changes in my thinking began to occur. When others asked me how the media relates to me, I realized that perhaps watercolor has gradually become a just a painting habit. I had lost the desire to challenge myself.

llectio

n 2016 ｜

So, for the time being, I zeroed out from the watercolor paintings I have learned in the past and start to explored the unknown realms of media and life. I explored whether the material itself can act as an independent form, enriching and extending material experiments and the poetic and philosophical content of my entire work.

WHY

HOW I DO? 1. Extensively experimenting with various materials and constantly observing what is happening around me are all sources of inspiration. I record ideas and participate in exhibitions to receive different feedback and opinions.

2. Playing is essential, which is a surefire way to kickstart ideation.

3. Keep recording the thought and holding exhibitions to receive different feedbacks and perspectives.

WHY I DO? Challenging the status quo and outdoing myself is my lifetime goal.

｜Material experiment 2020｜

IDEAS GENERATION FROM INSIDE OUT

｜Watercolor Collection 2019 - 2020 ｜

｜Watercolor Collection 2018 ｜

｜Watercolor Collection 2017｜

S O LO EX H I B I T I O N I NV I T ED C A RD S Research different types of simple substitution cipher, their history and uses. (Pigpen cipher)

This message was sent by a US gang member while in prison

Art of Encryption was inspired by the movie (The Imitation Game)

The pigpen cipher was also used in the British Civil War Here’s a pigpen letter from Richard Lawrence to John Wallis written in 1657

(Caesar cipher)

As a kind of exhibi1on experience, this invita1on card with an encrypted message echoes the name of the exhibi1on ‘The Observer’s Eyes’. Through observa1on, a paragraph of the creator’s words given to the viewer can be obtained.

Writing a letter for my friends with Caesar cipher (KEY)

ABCDEFGHIJKLM ROT 13

NOPQRSTUVWXY HELLO ROT 13

URYYB

to ta1on, I decided and experimen A"er research e th for m ord for her as the passw use Pigpen cip c oli mb sy s , it ha . On one hand invita1on card is ich wh ers, other than le@ characteris1cs e it has complet r, he ot e th text. On different from le ab r @e be rs are nuity, so viewe historical con1 her ernet and ot Int e th h throug to get clues the of irit re sp convey the co channels, and s. me ga g 1n interes ugh simple and exhibi1on thro

Human being

High heels symbolize women who seem to be romantically in love but are tortured by wishful thinking.

Apple (Western religion ) Door (Eastern religion )

An Andalusian dog (1929)-Dead body of donkeys

LOVE SEXUALITY

|Topic - Human |

Detail - A snake hiding in a cave.

Surrealism movie - an Andalusian dog (1929)

Name: The desire of hill Material: Watercolor on arches paper Year: 2019 Size: 158x 110cm

The mountain of desire is directed. Impulse, greed, stubbornness, and ignorance are problems we o"en encounter between the sexes. The combina1on of the door (precepts in Buddhism) and original sin (snake and apple derived from the Bible) has caused contradic1ons and fragility in human nature.

WATERCO LO R

02

|Topic - Personal story |

|Topic - The environment |

Name: The Darkest Hours Material: Watercolor on arches paper Year: 2019 Size: 158x 110cm

Name: The island Material: Watercolor on arches paper Year: 2019 Size: 70 x 70cm

I crossed the dark and winding mountain road. It’s narrow, cold, and creepy. The majes]c, gloomy mountain made me feel suffocated and lonely. Holding an oil lamp in my hand, with a faint light, trying to cross this dark abyss. On the road, when I am lost, the nobles in my life guided and supported me. The unknown and remote future has more challenges.

I had a dream that no ma`er how tortuous life is, I will con]nue to move forward, and my father is preparing to build a bonfire in the dark and cold place ahead. I knew that whenever I get there, he will leave me with guidance and warmth in the gloomy cold.

Then I woke up.

The idea of streetlight from Rene Magritte It is ironic that Taiwan is a multicultural country because our own culture is being severely eroded by popular culture to some extent. This means that Japanese animation, American graffiti, and street art from foreign cultures have become objects of

The structure of the work is borrowed from the Swiss symbolist artist Arnold Bucklin (1827­1901)

Tiny Milestones Those gigantic rocks inspired me with unique features seen when I was visiting Turkey (Cappadocia).

admiration and imitation for the people. Pride in citizens rises as a result because people believe that this is their culture, but the reality is thought-provoking and reflects the barrenness of Taiwan’s beauty.

The images of barren and withered rocks reflect current challenges between cultural concerns and public awareness. It often makes me feel confused and uneasy, and people still do not realize the root of colonial cultural problems.

03 HANDMADE PAPER - LOCATIONS The process of making handmade papers on 3683m mountain.

|Fiber can be reused from painting, printmaking and watercolor paper.|

MATERIALS HANDMADE PAPERS WORKS OF WATERCOLOR

DECAY

REBIRTH MAKING TOOLS Knowing, finding, and making your own tools has become the first challenge. It is even more difficult to make large-size handmade paper.

The only way is to make tools by hand.

Although it is quite time-consuming, I enjoy the opportunity to learn and try.

The process of metamorphosis in thoughts, works and materials

MATERIALS OF HANDMADE PAPERS

HANDMADE PAPERS FOR FURTHER WORKS

TRANSITION THE MOTIVATION OF MAKING PAPERS I always thought I was attracted b y v a r i o u s fo r m s o f f i b e rs , especially paper. As paper is one of the most basic and common materials in artistic creation, I want to create my own unique paper. Although playing with handmade paper is a heuristic education course in Taiwan’s kindergartens, few people really value and innovate it. It also kept me free to learn and experiment in areas that I had skipped before through playing and exploring materials. This is my motivation and belief in innovation and experimentation, so I put the idea into action by making handmade paper.

Puli Paper Manufacturing Plant (founded in 1935) is Taiwan’s oldest cultural heritage and the only surviving hand-made paper manufacturer in Taiwan. Before I started production, I went to the local area to absorb knowledge and experience from experienced papermakers. I wanted to witness the birth and origin of each piece of paper by myself, and carefully observe production methods and types of paper. This journey had great significance to me. Through step-by-step clues, processes and thoughts gradually emerge.

PROCESS OF MAKING

Air- or sun-dried, leaves and flowers can be used as the final decoration on the paper (sprinkle and press to fix them).

COLLECTING A WIDE RANGE OF NATURAL MATERIALS ②PLANTS

Different parts of plants can be used for various purposes Flowers: For decoration. Fill up a kitchen blender with water.

Throw in a good handful of flowers. Keep blending until they become small particles.

Leaves : Refine the fragrant and natural dyes for paper.

①HERBS

③ SPICES

Divided into two different processing for the use of different parts

Stems : Refine the fragrance of plants and the green dyes.

THE MOTIVATION OF MAKING PAPERS AND USING NATURAL MATERIALS Through the production of hand-made paper, natural elements seen in daily life are integrated into the media itself in another way. Paper is not just a media as it adds a personal symbol and process of exploring the value of a new form and texture. The shape and color of plants can be sealed long enough to become a symbol of different stages and locations of records. Creating hand-made paper has greatly shortened the distance between the works and the viewers. Compared with watercolors in the past, which mainly used visual senses, hand-made paper provides more textures and connections, enriching and extending the different senses through stimulus.

Simmering various parts of the plant, especially the flower, is important because the stamens, pistils, corolla, and petals will release a scent of nature. Chlorophyll is also released into the pulp. The softened fibers of the stems and leaves can be mixed with the pulp to produce different textures.

04 CYANO T YPE - TIME The process of exposure Cyanotype

PROCE SS

Playing different tools and chemicals preserve distinguish emotions and meanings

Patterns on cardboards

THE PROCESS OF TOOL-MAKING ARE MY WAY TO FOSTER CREATIVITY AND SEEK'' WHY ‘'.

Clothes and other cotton materials

Scratches on canvas

Making handmade tools for creating different patterns and traces on papers.

I am really into using different materials collected from anywhere to combine them together.

THE MOTIVATION OF CYANOTYPE Expression through Cyanotype was inspired by Mike Ware, a chemist and photographer. I was looking for a way to metaphorically preserve flowing and intangible ‘time’ through the characteristics of the material itself, rather than drawing specific objects like clocks or numbers. In many cases, Cyanotype was used to reprint photos or other realistic pictures, but I tried to retain watercolor techniques of painting, splashing and flow in a Cyanotype way, capturing and encapsulating ‘time and emotion’ with the material itself. The blue version is printed with light, and the ‘time’ of exposure depends on the depth of color.

My idea is that these patterns perfectly preserve the ‘time’ and current emotions of different stages.

process the print by rinsing it in cold water

05 LINE - EMOTION The inspiration for the expression in the sewing and weaving comes from carpet weaving that I saw during my travels in Turkey.

I am used to picking up the remaining ashes and taking them home to paint when a bonfire is set up in the wild.

Handmade carpets are a handicraft with a long history in Turkey, and an essential household item.

They are mainly composed of two parts: the structure of the carpet, which is formed by vertical and horizontal lines called ‘warp’ and ‘weft’. I tried to absorb relevant experience from the spirit of a hand-made item, combined with the work, and interpret it in a different way.

For me, compared to painting on paper, sewing or weaving is closer to an expression of emotion. This metaphorical emotion can be rooted and fixed in our process and mind at every stage. I tried to incorporate sewing techniques and concepts into my work, while echoing the handmade carpets I have seen in Turkey.

Charcoal made from woods of different hardness and texture produces different line segments and patterns on the paper.

Artists Anne Albers and Cy Twombly inspired me to use lines for creation and helped me to make those ambiguous and abstract ideas firm.

The combination of stitching and handmade papers

06 I T EM S - C O NNEC T I O N Pine nuts, chestnuts and other different nuts collected in Italy and Turkey.

An empty bird's nest collected from the wild.

Collected soil and rocks from different regions, Turkey, Xinjiang and Japan, to record the feelings during the journey.

Trying to use ready-made experiments and transitional works for my solo exhibition became the first step in exploring materials.

Various spices tasted and purchased in Turkey and mixed with pulp for hand-made paper

Coral fossils found in high-altitude riverbeds

The series of Frozen Capsule 2021 The graduation projects- I II III IV

The emotional footprints-I & II Material: Handmade paper, cotton thread, charcoal, natural materials, ready-mades, board, acrylic Year: 2020-2021 Size: 160x 120cm / 160x 60 cm

REGIONS

Unique objects found in a specific area

INTERWINED EMOTIONAL FELLINH

Collected relevant information and background

Make abstract feelings into a solid form Choose a corresponding object to combine with other elements

Display

Feel for this object and event

(The moment of encounter) The original characteristics of the object and attributes + Human civilization's macro definition of the item + Personal feelings

These two pieces of crea2ve media are the first works in the collec2on. Natural media has become an iconic element, reflec2ng my interest in and explora2on of analyzing the material world and all its coherent meanings. I believe that certain objects obtain individual power and value through themselves in a completely removed primi2ve context. These powers and values are intertwined with the audience's own experience and my own, crea2ng a brand-new connec2on.

ITEMS - MEMORY CONNECTION

The idea of wooden box was inspired by Dustin Yellin who Filling each veneer with objects, creatures, images suspended in resin.

(THE MOMENT OF MEETING) THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERISTIC AND ATTRIBUTE OF ITEMS

The sketches and blue prints for these two pieces, focussing on the structure and spaces allocation.

The Map Material: Handmade paper, cotton thread, charcoal, natural materials, ready-mades, board, acrylic Year: 2021 Size: 160x 120cm

The Live Operation And Experiment

Depic2ng Xinjiang's special landforms and unique Uyghur culture on a map inspired me to express the solemnity and tranquility of the earth through a return to innocence.

Under the magnificent Gobi grassland scenery, however, a tense atmosphere accompanies the journey, highligh2ng contradic2ons and mysteries through an eye-catching use of colors and vast blank spaces.

Physical Surface Of Paper

Using the clay and soil collected in Xinjiang to cover on and mix with handmade paper to make texture

N

The Yardang geography is common in Xinjiang with soft and clay materials

Practical operation and experiment (schematic diagram)

Fans on both sides form convection Ash precipitation

Straw Fenugreek Powder (Xinjiang spices) Chrysanthemum Buds

Wheat

The Ingredients Mixed With Paper

This becomes the combination of implied texture and real texture to describe the local geographic features

High-efficiency fan The Memories Material: Handmade paper, cyanotype, ashes, ready-mades, acrylic Year: 2021 Size: 150x 150cm

Ash precipitation and accumulation and then start a new cycle

Paper blowing ashes Human memories and emo2ons are stacked layer by layer over 2me, seemingly to be forgoKen and turned into dust, but they are hidden deep in our shallow consciousness.

Whenever we touch the scene and affec2on, they cause bursts of turbulence.

Expression form inspired by Damien Hirst

Soil and gravel from foreign countries

Dry plants and herbs from Turkey

Eagle feather

Wheat

Corks

the born of Reeves's muntjac

Nut leaf Bird nest

Rocks

D E TA I L S

Air ticket and Trenitalia Pass

Nails

Sapindus Different Pine cones and nuts

Volcanic rock The high-power pile fans after blowing the paper ashes Nails（the parts of connection between regions and emotions）

Nails（the parts of items）

Nails（the parts of connection between regions and emotions）

EXHIBITIONS / RECORDS / RESEARCH / HOBBY/ COLLECTION

These paper collec,ons and records are the star,ng point of my crea,on and source of my brainstorming.

Fashion show in Japan

Journeys Materials | Time

line

Cipher EXHIBITIONS

FASHION MAGAZINES AND JAPANESE ART

Design Textures

Handmade paper

Photography

Materials | Specimen Collages Materials

EXHIBITIONS IN TAIWAN AND ITALIAN

CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS IN ITALY

Textures Journeys

Materials | Specimen

Materials | Sculpture Materials | Specimen

Journeys

Street art | Graffiti art

Journeys | Italy

Material

Design| lecture Material

Cyanotype

Material|Chemicals

Material | Plants and animals

Handmade paper

Journeys | Turkey

EXHIBITIONS IN TAIWAN

RECORDS FOR TURKEY AND ITALY

MATERIAL EXPERIMENTS WITH CHEMICALS

MATERIALS COLLECTED FROM THE WILD