Photo by Chiara Becattini, 2024
CHEN Mei-Tsen
Chen Mei-Tsen, born in Taipei City in 1966, graduated in Fine Arts from Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan. In 1990, she left for Paris for advanced studies and obtained artist status in France, where she has worked ever since 30 years. Mei-Tsen creates an inventory of vital moments by means of drawing, analogue & digital photography, video, installation, sculpture and painting thus translating these moments into an intimate topography, a map detailing sensitivities and experiences. Daughter of an architect, a transmission that plays an important role in her artistic way. Her journey is part of a search for traces, in search of answers on the origins from a constructive nomadism.
In Chen Mei-Tsen’s work, the map becomes a dream which connects and weaves together disparate networks. She depicts cities which change and evolve both physically and mentally as the growth of trees impacts them, as well as investigating this impact on the artist’s own identity. Mei-Tsen defines herself as an urban nomad. Whenever possible, she travels with her artworks when they are exhibited in the many cities, in order to have a better understanding of the reactions of visitors to her work. In this artistic context, she has had many exchanges and interactions with the public, responding to social and cultural differences, as well as with other artists of all nationalities. All these journeys allow her to have physical connections across diverse urban environments. Mei-Tsen seeks the meaning of life from the constructive exhibition process and reflects on her identity as an artist.
She has been selected by the Collectif pour la culture en Essonne (CC91) to feature in its Biennial visual arts exhibition of Ile-de-France La Science de l’Art from October to December 2021. This prestigious Biennial, the 9th to be held, brings together the research and creation of artists and scientists, focuses on concepts and practices based on the transdisciplinarity.
Chen Mei-Tsen participes, invited by the European Cultural Centre (ECC-Italy), in Personal Structures Biennial 2024 in Venice, Italy. This exhibition locates at Palazzo Bembo from April 20 to November 24, 2024. She presents the series Paradise, oil paintings in a solo exhibition space, starting from her birthplace Taipei, to her current residence in Paris, and other major cities in the world she has visited: London, New York, Singapore, Beijing, Barcelona, etc., echoing the Venetian urban structure built on tree stumps. Mei-Tsen compares the city to the divergent branches and entangled roots of trees, to look at the city as a paradise for human reconstruction, an organic and protective body, an organization that is constantly expanding and transforming both spiritually and structurally.
She is collaborating with Peter Klasen, a German artist living in France. The two of them will jointly create artworks and hold an exhibition which will take place at the Topographie de l’Art in Paris, November 2025. This is a new art challenge that spans different cultures, ages, styles and concepts.
Chen Mei-Tsen has contributed to numerous individual and collective exhibitions in art galleries, contemporary art fairs, art centres and museums in different countries: France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, England, Taiwan, China, United States and Russia. Her artworks are in private collections in France, Spain, England, United States, China and Taiwan.
She was awarded for her project Paradise, for the category Painting & Mixed Media, in Personal Structures Biennial 2024 by ECC-Italy in Venice. Her paintings were collected by China Medical University Art Museum in Taichung, Taiwan.
|
|
|
STUDIES
1985-90
— Taipei National University of the Arts, Taipei, Taiwan.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2025
— Taipei, Paris, New York, Focus Art Fair, Chelsea Industrial, New York, United States.
2024
— Paradise, Palazzo Bembo, Personal Structures Biennial - European Cultural Centre, ECC-Italy, Venice, Italy.
— Rhizomes, Duo exhibition, BOA Gallery, Paris, France.
2023
— Into the Blue, Julia Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.
2022
— Paradise, Online exhibition, XunArt Gallery, Luxembourg.
2021
— Arbres Vasculaires en Métamorphose, Atelier CMT, Festival La Science de l'Art, Paris, France.
2019
— Plat du Jour, Le Magic Hall, Rennes, France.
2014
— Between Taipei and Paris, Galerie Grand Siècle, Taipei, Taiwan.
2009
— Starry Sky, Ching-Shang Poliform, Taipei, Taiwan.
— Starry Sky, Galerie Grand Siècle, Taipei, Taiwan.
2008
— Galerie 91, Paris, France.
— Cloître des Billettes, Paris, France.
2007
— Espace Larith, Chambéry, France.
2005
— Espace Mezzara - Hôtel Hector Guimard, Paris, France.
2004
— Entre Ciel et Terre, Duo exhibition, Septmoncel City Hall, Jura, France.
— Année de la Chine, Duo exhibition, Poligny Culture Centre, Jura, France.
2003
— Duo exhibition, Condorcet Cultural Space, Viry-Chatillon, France.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2024
— The Temptation to Transcend Boundaries, Palazzo-Capello, Venice, Italy.
2023
— Boundless: Transitions, Art in Perpetuity Trust Gallery, Deptford, London, United Kingdom.
— A Foodi’s Wonderland, Vibrantology Galeria, Taipei, Taiwan.
— Si Loin, Si Proche, Fondation La Ruche-Seydoux / Association Atelier Alfred Boucher, Paris, France.
— Au-delà des Frontières, Kulturhaus, Diekirch Historical Museum, Luxembourg.
2022
— Liberalitas, Galerie Wagner, Paris, France.
— 50 years Luxembourg – China, Art Work Circle / XunArt gallery, Luxembourg.
— Entre (Fil)les, Galerie Wagner, Paris, France.
2021
— Age of Uncertainty, Virtual exhibition, United Kingdom.
2018
— Découpages, Espace Christine Peugeot, Paris, France.
— Trajectoires et Déplacements, Cachan Biennial of Contemporary Art, France.
2016
— Makro Kosmos, Galerie Toutes Latitudes, Vincennes, France.
— Intimate Transgressions, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan.
— Intimate Transgressions, Hangzhou Library, Hangzhou, China.
— Struggle, Sanwei Art Center, Shanghai, China.
— Identity, Emerging Arts Research Center, 798, Beijing, China.
— Birth of a Nation, Ning Space, 798, Beijing, China.
2015
— Intimate Transgressions, Inter Gallery, 798, Beijing, China.
— Sailing to Byzantium, Leyden Gallery, London, United Kingdom.
— Transversales B, Barclays Victor Hugo, Paris, France.
— Intimate Transgressions, WhiteBox Gallery, New York, United States.
— Regards Croisés, Barclays Centre Premier George V, Paris, France.
— A Meditation in a Time of War, Dong Yue Art Museum, Beijing, China.
— Golden Fleece, Inter Art Centre, Beijing, China.
— Mémoire & Sublimation, Galerie Médicis, Paris, France.
2014
— Rêver la terre, Galerie Episodique, Paris, France.
— Art Fair Taichung, Taiwan.
— Material World, Loftooo Gallery, Shanghai, China.
— Convergence 2014, 3C Creative Mall, Beijing, China.
2013
— Between Europe and Asia, Shiryaevo Biennial of Contemporary Art, Russia.
2012
— The City & The City, A.P.T. Gallery, London, United Kingdom.
— Hidden Meanings, Yan Chao Collection Gallery, Guomao, Beijing, China.
— Intimate Revolution, Siemens Arts Space, 798, Beijing, China.
2011
— Résonances, Salle d’Anchin, Douai, France.
— Résonances, La Poudrière 1669, Saint Venant, France.
— Heart Outside Body, Times Art Museum, Beijing, China.
— Heart Outside Body, Sint Niklaas Fine Arts Academy, Belgium.
2010
— Nord Art 2010 - Kunst in der Carlshütte, Büdelsdorf, Germany.
2009
— Cabinet de Curiosités, Galerie Toutes Latitudes, Vincennes, France.
— Taokan moving bricks, East Side Gallery, Berlin, Germany.
— Life & Dream, China Pingyao International Photography Festival, China.
— Young Art Taipei - Contemporary Hotel Art Fair, Taipei, Taiwan.
— Duel Regard - The Views from Taiwanese Women's Arts, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan.
2008
— Femme, jardin secret, pays lointain, Galerie Sinitude, Paris, France.
— Cologne Art. Fair 21 – Messe Für Aktuelle Kunst, Germany.
— Art Karlsruhe – Klassische Moderne und Gegenwartskunst, Germany.
2007
— A Table, Galerie Toutes Latitudes, Vincennes, France.
2006
— Sauvez des Zoos, Galerie Toutes Latitudes, Vincennes, France.
— Estampa – XIV Salón Internationale del Grabado, Madrid, Spain.
2005
— Rue des Granges, Mollans-sur-Ouvèze Festival, France.
— Six Femmes dans l’Art, UNESCO, Paris, France.
2004
— Hors des Sentiers Battus, Festival in MK2 Bibliothèque, Paris, France.
2003
— Gravure et des Nouvelles Images, Sarcelles International Biennial, France.
— Nouvelles tendances, Taiwan Cultural Centre in Paris, France.
— Galerie Cathay, Paris, France.
2002
— Invitation au Voyage, Aumont, Jura, France.
— Salon des Grands et Jeunes d’Aujourd’hui, Paris, France.
— Salon d’Art Contemporain, Viry-Chatillon, France.
2001
— Salon d’Automne, Paris, France.
— Altered Dialog Between Time and Life, Julia Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.
— Salon des Grands et Jeunes d’Aujourd’hui, Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France.
— Salon d’Art Contemporain de Montrouge, France.
2000
— Clinique: La thérapie de groupe par le minéral, Forum St Eustache, Paris, France.