Home Art & Design Emerging Artist Programme Named After Ah Niu

Named After Ah Niu

Room 2105｜Acrylic on canvas 35x35cm 2017



People tend to give names to the life forms they are fond of or to the inanimate objects they often personify. The giant trevally, also known as Ah Niu, have been one of the most beloved fish species among the divers in Kenting, Taiwan. The trevally fish were not scared to get close to people, thus they have been given a name and have become famous living creatures accompanying everyone.

A fisherman illegally entered the port area of Lake Houbi on March 30, 2017. No more Ah Niu were found after he left the lake. Even if the area is not protected by the law, the rule of no trespassing should still be in force. These minor violations have become the symbol of futile work of capitalist consumption. A great number of rare species have been on the verge of extinction. Is it enough just to protect and preserve these non-protected species? Are not the non-marine protected areas on the map also a part of our world? Just because the borders can be moved easily at any time, does it mean that we can always give up on the life beings in this area?

In the memory of Ah Niu, let us think about the meaning of life and borders. Let us ponder upon whether capital and power can effectively intervene in the protection of each and every life form that is not necessarily given the right to speak.


CHEN I-Chun

2014 Studying for a PhD, Department of Fine Arts, Taipei National University of the Arts, Taipei, Taiwan
1980 Born in Nantou, Taiwan

I-Chun Chen received MFA degree in Digital Art and Technology and BFA in Oil Painting from the Taipei National University of the Arts in 2010 and 2005, respectively. Currently, she is studying for a PhD at the Department of Fine Arts of the Taipei National University of the Arts.

The artist is best known for her artistic practice in video art, experimental animation/video, interactive art, multi-media art, and paintings. She focuses on folk stories and social issues in the industrious areas, marginalized areas, or among the lower middle class.

Chen’s works have been selected for numerous international art exhibitions, biennials and festivals in Taiwan, India, Brazil, Japan, China, Israel, South Korea, Singapore, Macao, the United States, Austria, Germany, Russia, and other countries. Her video works have been selected for inclusion in the Film Sector at Art Basel Hong Kong in 2016 and the Film Library at Art Basel Miami 2015. Not only private art collectors, but also museums, including the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, have collected her works.

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2016 'Do You Dream of Electric Sheep? The N-time Destruction Starts Over Again', Liang Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2015 'Little Black: Life in the Factory II', National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
2014 'Shui Yuan Lin Legend', Huan Tie Li No. 5, Beijing, China
2013 'Decoding the Heavenly Book', Hong-gah Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
2011 'Epidermis Factory', National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan

Selected Group Exhibitions
2016 'Art16 London', Olympia Grand, London, UK
2016 'Art Basel Hong Kong – Film Sector', agnès b. Cinema – Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong, China
2015 'Art Kaohsiung 2015', City Suites, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2015 'Art Basel Miami – Film Library', Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, FL, USA
2015 'Art15 London', Olympia Grand, London, UK

Awards
2014 FILE – Electronic Language International Festival, Selected, Brazil
2012 ACM Multimedia Art Exhibition, Selected, Spain
2011 Cologne Off VII – Video in a Global Context, Selected, Germany
2011 FILE – Electronic Language International Festival, Selected, Brazil

Collections
2015 Shui Yuan Lin Legend – Fourth Episode, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
2012 Epidermis Factory, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
2012 Goodbye Little Factory, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
2011 Measuring Distance Between the Self and Others, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan

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