Taiwan
Wang Wen-chih was born in Chiayi, Taiwan in 1959. He holds a master’s degree from the Institute of Fine Arts, Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan. It is said that Wen-chih is one of the first to scale what can be done with bamboo as a structural element. While other pioneers explored constructing buildings, Wen-chih embraced the impermanence of bamboo to create ephemeral space that is made possible only through the unique properties of bamboo. He was inspired by traditional Taiwanese basket weaving and scaled up these techniques to weave giant spaces. Wen-chih has been recognized globally as not only a master craftsman but also as a distinguished artist and designer.
Due to his generosity of spirit and willingness to collaborate, he has been revered as a mentor and a foundation for many others following in his lead. Around the world, we now see iterations of his work all over the world - in Australia, in Mexico, and beyond.
From Nici Long, of Cave Urban (Australia), “Even though we did not speak the same language, our shared bamboo passion provided the perfect conduit for communication. Wen-chih's artistry combined with the wonder of bamboo as a structural material allowed us to create a work 100m long and 15m high in a country with no bamboo culture and a team of enthusiastic but unskilled volunteers.”
Wang Wen-chi is the true form of pioneer. He is an Artist, Architect and Engineer all in one. His structures are brave! He is brave and courageous in implementing traditional culture in such a non- traditional way. It is his powerful understanding and affinity with the natural landscape that imbues his work with the kind of awe and spirit you would normally feel in a church or an ancient forest. His works ephemeral nature only adds to the wonder he creates and enhances our connection and understanding of the ethereal realms.
Another quote from Nici Long, “If we look at bamboo as an international language for connection...then Wen-chih is the Master poet of that material. He is the best kind of Master. Wise, humble, sure of his beliefs, tireless in their pursuit and passionate in their implementation.”
Today let us celebrate Wen-chih for the creative spirit he expresses through bamboo, and honor him with the World Bamboo Pioneer Award.
Major Exhibitions
2023 Thailand Biennale 2023, Chiang Rai, Thailand “ Love of Saihin”, Adventure World, Japan
2022 Setouchi Triennale 2022, Shodoshima, Japan “CampBoo”, Mayhowart gallery, Taiwan
2021 Mine Art Festival 2021, New Taipei City Gold Museum, Taipei, Taiwan 2020 “House of Yuzhang”, Taoyuan Land Art Festival 2020, Taoyuan, Taiwan 2019 Setouchi Triennale 2019, Shodoshima, Japan
"Sea Goddess" (public art), Taiwan Lantern Festival 2019, Pingtung, Taiwan
2018 “Taoyuan Air No. 1” (public art), Taoyuan Land Art Festival 2018, Taoyuan, Taiwan
“A Streak of Red Delight” (public art), Chiayi, Taiwan 2016 Setouchi Triennale 2016, Shodoshima, Japan
"Quandong Dream ", Woodford Art Festival, Woodford, Australia “Sky” (public art), CMP Village, Miaoli, Taiwan
2015 Water and Land Niigata Art Festival 2015, Niigata City, Japan
Bamboo Strokes, Chiayi County Performing Arts Center, Chiayi, Taiwan
2014 "Woven Cloud", Woodford Art Festival, Woodford, Australia "Beyond the Site II ", Taiwan Fine Arts Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
2013 "Woven Sky ", Woodford Art Festival, Woodford, Australia
Setouchi Triennale 2013, Shodoshima, Japan
HÖHENRAUSCH.3-The Art of Towers, O.K Centre for Contemporary Art, Austria "The Sky Scraping Tree"(public art), Chiayi, Taiwan
2012 Water and Land Niigata Art Festival 2012, Niigata City, Japan
"Song of the Forest"(public art), Alishan Forest Village, Chiayi, Taiwan "Rippling Moonlit Talk"(public art), Lantan Lake Tourist District, Chiayi, Taiwan " Star Catching Tree"(public art), Taitung City Beach Park, Taitung, Taiwan
2010 International Setouchi Art Festival 2010, Shodoshima, Japan
Taiwan Garden "Sky", Taipei International Flora Exposition 2010, Taiwan “Tower of Light”, Taiwan Lantern Festival 2010, Chiayi, Taiwan.
2009 Niigata Water and Land Art Festival 2009, Niigata City, Japan "Cloud Soaring Hand", Taipei Deaf Olympic, Taipei, Taiwan
2007 Prague Quadrennial 07, Industrial Palace, Prague, Czech Republic. 2001 Taiwan Pavilion, The 49th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Solo Exhibitions
2017
2015
2014
2005
2005
2002
2000
1999
1995
“Sanctuary”, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan. Getting Together Art Festival, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
“House of Bihu”, Bihu Park, Taipei, Taiwan HarbourFront Centre, Toronto, Canada. Vermont Studio Center Gallery, Johnson, USA.
“Reunion“, Hwashan Cultural Park, Taipei, Taiwan.
« Sky », Plaza of National Theater Concert Hall, Taipei, Taiwan
Bamboo Curtain Studio, Taipei, Taiwan. Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan. Alternative Space, Chiayi, Taiwan.
Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020 House of Yuzhang, Taoyuan Land Art Festival 2020, Taoyuan, Taiwan
2017 Negotiating the Future- 2017 Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts,
Taichung, Taiwan
Taoyuan International Drift-Wood Art Festival 2017, Taoyuan, Taiwan
2016 Extraordinary Relationship 3.0- The Tung Ho Steel International Artists Residency
Exhibition, Miaoli, Taiwan
2014 The Pioneers of Taiwanese Artists, 1951-1960, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts,
Taichung, Taiwan
2007 Convergence of Mountain and Sea Exhibition, Plaza of Chiayi County Hall, Taiwan. 2006 Vivacious State Exhibition, Taiwan Orchid Park, Tainan, Taiwan
2005 Guandu Flower Arts Festival 2005, Taipei National University of Arts, Taipei, Taiwan. 2004 18 Solo Exhibitions, Kin-Men County, Taiwan.
The Multiform Nineties : Taiwan’s Art Branches Out, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.
Guandu Flower Arts Festival 2004, Taipei National University of Arts, Taipei, Taiwan.
2003 Chin-shan International Landscape Sculpture Exhibition, Juming Museum, Taipei County, Taiwan.
Guandu Flower Arts Festival 2003, Taipei National University of Arts, Taipei, Taiwan. 2002 2002 Public Art Festival:Water Charter, Taipei City Hall, Taipei, Taiwan.
Homecoming : Reviving the Venice Experience in Taiwan, Taipei Fine Arts Museum,Taipei, Taiwan.
Kaohsung International container arts Festival 2001, Kaohsung Fine Arts Museum Kaohsung, Taiwan.
2000 An Urban Archeology: Digging, Linking & Making, Huashan Arts District, Taipei, Taiwan. 1999 “Art in March: Legend 99”, Council for Cultural Planning&Development of Executive
Yuan , Nantau, Taiwan.
1997 “Installation Art in Taiwan”, Chiayi, Taiwan
“River: New Asian art-A dialogue in Taipei”, Taipei County Cultural Center, Taipei
County, Taiwan.
1994 Eslite Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.
1993 Salon de la Jeune Peinture, Paris, France.
1990 World Triennial Exhibition of Small Ceramics, Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
Contemporary Art Trends of the Republic of China 1990, Taipei Fine Arts Museum,
Taipei, Taiwan.
1988 Contemporary Art Trends of the Republic of China 1988, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei,
Taiwan.
Awards
2023 “Chiayi Culture Award”, Chiayi County Government 2023 MUSE CREATIVE AWARDS
2020 Best Public Landscape, Yuan-yin Award, " A Streak of Red Delight", Association of Kaohsiung Building Operations
2013 Best Public Landscape, Yuan-yin Award, " Song of the Forest ", Association of Kaohsiung Building Operations
2012 Best Public Landscape, Yuan-yin Award, "Rippling Moonlit Talk", Association of Kaohsiung Building Operations
2010 First prize, Taipei Flower Exposition 2010- the most popular garden of the world, and the first AIPH prize, Taipei International Flora Exposition 2010
2007 Gold Medal for Best Use of Technology, Prague Quadrennial 07, Prague, Czech Republic. 2003 Top 8, TaiShing Arts Visual Arts Awards, TaiShing Bank Arts Fondation, Taipei, Taiwan. 1997 Excellence Award, “River: New Asian art-A dialogue in Taipei”,
Taipei County Cultural Center, Taipei County, Taiwan.
1993 Selected, Salon de la Jeune Peinture, Paris, France.
1990 Selected, World Triennial Exhibition of Small Ceramics, Zagreb, Yugoslavia. 1990 Selected, Contemporary Art Trends of the Republic of China, Taipei Fine
Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.
1988 Excellence Award, Contemporary Art Trends of the Republic of China
Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.