“Weaving of Mellow Dreams—Arts Exhibition by Professor Shu-Meei Chang,” organized by National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall of Ministry of Culture, will be held at Chungshan National Gallery from February 25 to April 25. The opening ceremony was held today (March 4). The distinguished guests attending the ceremony included Chairman Chen Yu-xiu of Public Television Service, Executive Vice President Ding Shih-torng of National Taiwan University, former President Huang Guang-nan of National Taiwan University of Arts, former Chair Wang Che-hsiung of Department of Fine Arts, National Taiwan Normal University, Chairman Wu Lie of Fifth Moon Art Group, Chairman Yang Yung-fu of The Oil Painting Association of R.O.C., Prof. Chung You-hui of Department of Fine Arts, National Taiwan Normal University, Prof. Lin Hsueh-ching of Department of Visual Arts, University of Taipei, the exhibition artist, Chang Shu-meei, and Director-general Wang Lan-sheng of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
The exhibition selects over hundred works of painting and sculpture and displays the most representative series works in Prof. Chang’s career. Through the rich colors, gentle strokes, and beautiful lines, the poetic dreamlike scenes are created. Prof. Chang has had the unique and consistent creative style for years. With the axis of female nude, the style integrates the classic ideal and modern subjective simplicity and presents the elegant female images in a refreshing way.
Director-general Wang Lan-sheng of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall said Ms. Chang has been dedicated to creation for years. She won numerous awards in school. With the love for painting and exercise, she is both good at dynamic and static activities. She is a humble and reserved person. Besides dedicating herself to art education and talent cultivation for years, she is also a senior member of Taichung City Artist Club and Fifth Moon Art Group. Her works are of unique style. As she said, despite the increasing age, the paintings have to remain young. The rich and dreamlike colors and the gentle, pure, and flawless lines in her works refresh our mind and bring the atmosphere of spring.
Former Chair Wang Che-hsiung of Department of Fine Arts, National Taiwan Normal University, said Ms. Chang was his classmate in university. He admired her pursuit and ideal for art creation. Despite the clear knowledge of the art development and trend in the world, she has never been affected, insisting on the aesthetic and poetic creative style without following fashion. Ignoring the temptation from the trend of art market, she seldom sells her works and insists on creating for herself. This is not easy but admirable.
Prof. Chang said most of her works are the imaginary and fictional narratives to create new life of painting. Since childhood, she has loved literature and music. Therefore, the famous literary works such as Swan Lake, The Lady of the Camellias, and Greek Myth become her creative inspirations. She continues to paint female nude because of the encouragement from the teachers of the Department of Fine Arts of National Taiwan Normal University. She believes that what she pursues for life is a kind of beauty. She hopes to present the beauty transformed from her inner feelings to everyone. As long as she can see and move her hands, she will never stop creating new works.
This time Ms. Chang is invited to hold the solo exhibition at Chungshan National Gallery of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. The exhibition displays the diverse art categories of oil painting, sketching, ink painting, color porcelain, and sculpture, including the early works and the new works that haven’t been published in recent years. Through the female bodies that symbolize truth, goodness, and beauty, dreamlike colors, and poetic painting rhyme, she shares the results of her sixty-year cultivation in the art world and records the dream-seeking journey in her painting career. Welcome painting lovers to visit the exhibition and appreciate the works. For more information about the exhibition, please visit the official website of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, www.yatsen.gov.tw, or call the service counter, (02) 27588008, ext. 545, 546.