Min-Chung
Chuang

I, Chuang Min-Chung, am a mixed-material painter. Because of changes in contemporary art, I use oil and acrylic in my works to give them have different feelings of sight and touch. My works are related to marine culture. The ocean is a large theater, and Taiwanese icons and totems, such as fishes, butterflies, tatalas, and chicken bones are actors. Via those icons, totems, and ceremonies, I want to tell people around the world about Taiwanese folk culture and religion, as well as a happy-go-lucky life view.

I love the ocean. People say that I am optimistic and enterprising. And I always make plans and schedules on the spur of the moment. I have been researching oil, acrylic, and watercolor materials for the past 30 years. My paintings are related to my experience and to environmental change. Despite being a university painting teacher, I continue to paint to improve my skills and knowledge. I have held solo exhibitions and attend competitions to examine my work increase my painting energy. To provide myself new stimuli, I began a painting doctorate in Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2007. The other students were impressive because of their strong ambition and creative power. I reconceived how to put oriental symbols into my works and combine Taiwanese culture and contemporary issues. The theme of my work is “ocean progress”.

I look at local Taiwanese images from a broad perspective, take all human culture in view, and use narrative in my work. I depict culture change, ethnicity, and social class.

莊明中，1963年出生於台灣，老家鄰近海邊，從小與大海就特別的親近。身為老師的父母親給我很大的學習空間，在公教小康家庭中成長，養成我樂觀進取的生活態度，培養了我主動安排時間、規劃學習得好習慣。家族中有十幾人擔任美術老師和藝術創作，在耳濡目染之下，我從小就喜歡繪畫，在學習歷程中也遇到許多優秀的老師指導，參加比賽也屢次獲獎。

於國立台灣師範大學美術系研究所學習時，針對油彩、壓克力、水彩等媒材進行了深入的探討和研究，對於生活體驗和環境變遷進行了系列創作。畢業後進入台中教育大學美術系任教，也曾任美術系所主任，致力於油畫創作課程的教學，並不斷精進自己的創作，藉由比賽、學術升等、舉辦個展來檢視自我的創作歷程與提升自我的創作能量。除了投入藝術創作外，也擔任全國美展、全國百號油畫展等台灣大型美展的評審。

2007年正逢教授休假研究，為了轉換自我的生活環境和創作視點，前往北京中央美術學院進修博士課程，接受不同的藝術文化刺激，且當時北京當代藝術正蓬勃發展，藝術家旺盛的創作力和企圖心都讓我印象深刻，我也重新思考如何將東方語彙融入創作，建立台灣本土性及當代性的特色，因而激盪出近期的「海洋進行式」系列創作。從宏觀角度看待台灣在地的圖像，並放眼人類文化之演進，以敘事性手法表現與跨時空的創作觀念，對文化變遷、總族階層和自我生命折射，進行了深入的創作與探討。

個人的系列創作在台灣舉辦了22次的個展，並積極參與國際發表，除了北京外，也曾前往東京、雪梨、溫哥華、西班牙、蒙古國等地的國際性展覽，以提升創作能量和能見度。也期盼這次前往貴國參展，與世界的藝術家共同切磋成長，相信這會是創作生命中難能可貴的經驗。