My Spiritual Perspective by Jorge O. Shen
For 20 years, I have been obsessed about photography and it had gradually become the main communication medium of my thoughts and emotions. I use photography to express my care and love for things and people familiar in my daily life, and I hope to capture precious memories as I journey through life. Therefore, I always carry my beloved single-lens camera, and observe through the viewfinder the truth and falsehood of the world. With sophistication I utilize the lens, film, filters, shutter, aperture, depth of field, focus, lighting, flash, color, composition, exposure, developing, discharge phase, digital editing, post-production techniques. I express my artworks based on Chinese culture, via the Western medium, and link traditional photography and digital darkroom to vividly present the wonders of life.
Using Chinese people's traditional point of view, one can express the endless bewilderment, through the visual sensory elements of light, shadow, color, movement dynamics, and psychological illusion effect to create the dream-like state. To comprehend the Confucian "world objects and the physical and spiritual unity" and Buddhist enlightenment, which is achieved when one escapes the boundless sea of bitterness created by the delusional minds of human, one must purify one’s heart via gratitude toward one’s blessings and practice mediation. As a result, one can hope to be freed from the shackles of the mind, eliminate all the sins, return to the paradise of simplicity, and continue the path toward achieving the supreme essence of Buddhahood.
As photography is a means to heighten my spirituality, I always take the time to observe a subject and contemplate deeply in hope to trigger inspiration and tap into the unlimited creative energy. Therefore, I sought innovative ideas and continue to work for breakthroughs. As part of the experiment, I tried a variety of techniques including pin-hole, compression, expanding, special cropping, freezing, moving, chasing, soft focus, out focus, skip focus, color lens, black cardboard, textured filter, light film, infrared film, high-sensitivity film, reverse negative film developing, inversing film, increasing film sensitive, increasing grain, high contrast, object direct projection, rotation, spray, halfway exposure, layers, collective composition, emboss, color tone separation, needle pen, chisel, baking, line drawing, etching, bleaching, dye transfer, color adjustment, coloring, color filter, color-channel withdrawing, painting, transfer, duplicating, taking picture from photo, slide projection, combination, collage, installation, reflection, distortion, changing colors, deterioration, and other creative transformation skills. I also integrated computer software technology and digital image effects processing techniques to finesse the photos to achieve a particular effect. All of my techniques and skills are utilized in hope to create a harmonic mixture of abstract image and impression, and to explore my creative and spiritual dimensions.
In short, the main theme of this solo exhibition is the beauty in the variety of nature and humans. By expression through words and images, combined with the visual illusion of time and space, the artworks present the wealth of imagination laced with symbolic undertone. Through the artistic eye, I place my deep thoughts into the images to tell the powerful life stories as a means to communicate with the viewer, and hopefully in turn lead them into the borderless world of imaginations.
Through my work, I hope to help the viewer in gaining happiness, wisdom and peacefulness. It has been my mission to enhance the quality of life of those around me and increase the elegance in the world especially in this chaotic time.
About the Artist, Jorge O. Shen
The artist was born in Tainan, Taiwan in 1958. In June 1982 he graduated from Tamkang University major in Spanish Languages. In April 1984 after discharge from the Army, he immediately decided to become independence and went to Taipei to find a job. Then he continued to improve himself by participating in a variety of skill training classes after work. On 1987, he decided to do trading business as his main line, and photography as the side line, to broaden his horizons, make more friends, and explore the life journey. In order to improve his photography skill, he has participated in more than 60 photography classes and outdoor photo activities everywhere for 20 years. Since his first photographic exhibition "Taiwan Temple Legend" in December of the year 2000, his artworks have been exhibited all over Taiwan including cultural centers, photo galleries, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taiwan Arts Education Center, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Taipei city hall celebrity gallery. Jorge O. Shen had held more than 50 different series of thematic photographic exhibitions in Taiwan. He hopes to promote the art into everyday life, and make the life artistically.
Artist: Mr. Jorge O. Shen
Education: Graduated from Tamkang University majored in Spanish Language (1982).
Honors:
Professional Photographer certified by Association of Taipei Commercial Photography.
Master member of the Photographic Society of Taiwan.
Professional member of Konica Photographic Society.
Senior member of China Art Photographic Association.
Gold member of North Youth Photographic Society of Taipei.
Honor member of North Youth Photographic Society of Taipei.
Background of photographic study: Since 1987, he has studied Photography for more than 60 kinds of photography classes and workshops.
Has served as:
- The Deputy Director of photography, Director, Training team Leader, Chairman of the monthly tournament, Chairman of the thematic photographic department, Photography class instructor, Director of the photo classes, The judging panel, Vice President, and Convener at North Youth Photographic Society of Taipei.
-President of North Youth Photographic Society of Taipei.
-Photographic class instructor of Taiwan IRS,
- Instructor of Department of Social Education Center; taught fundamental photographic classes, intermediate photographic classes, photographic technique classes, photographic focus on special topic classes, Creative photographic classes, and artistic photographic classes.
- Instructor of the Photographic Society of National Defense Medical College.
- Instructor of Photographic Society of Taipei for Photographic and Appreciation Courses.
- Fifth president of FAI Photographic Club,
- Instructor of Shu-Chiu Photographic Art Institute for figure/body photographic art.
- Lecturer for the Chinese Photographic Academy Awards workshops
- Konica Photographic Society vice chairman of Academic Committee, vice chairman of Picture Art, vice chairman of photographic study classes, director of intermediate workshops, director of digital photography classes.
-Konica Photographic Society vice president, director of special workshops, instructor of figure/body art photographic workshops, Judge of the Salon monthly competition.
- Vice chairman of the intermediate classes of Photographic Society of Taiwan.
Present: President of Invention Photographic Art Society.
Publications: 1. Autumn Maple Poetic Story, 3D desk calendar, 2004
2. Explore of Human Body Desire, DVD disc album, 2005
3. Black, White, Shadow and Highlight, Postcard album, 2007
4. Taiwan Wang Ship Fiesta, Desktop calendar, 2008
5. Vicissitudes of Taiwan Sugar Factories, Handmade album, 2009
6. Taiwan Diligent Labor, Handmade album, 2010
Solo Exhibitions:
1. “Taiwan temple legend” in December, 2000 at Heng Chang Photo Gallery
2. “Praise for Taiwan ancient houses” in February, 2001 at Tainan City Photo Center
3. “Taiwan historic heritage” in July, 2001 at Lanjiang Cultural bureau
4. “Taiwan coast meditate” in September 2001 at Hang Chang Photo Gallery
5. “Taiwan wildflowers” in August, 2002 at Hsinchu City Cultural Bureau
6. “Magnificent momentum of Taroko” in October, 2002 at Hang Chang Photo Gallery
7. “Streets of His-Men-Ting district” in April, 2003 at Miaoli County Cultural Bureau
8. “Taipei City fantasy” in December, 2003 at Hang Chang Photo Gallery
9. “Elderly faces of Taiwanese” in February, 2004 at Chiayi County Cultural Bureau
10. “Taiwan magnificent mountains” in March, 2004 at Penghu County Cultural Bureau
11. “Traveling in Lanyui Island and Green Island” in April, 2004 at Hualien County Cultural Bureau.
12. “The Autumn maple poetic story” in May, 2004 at Hang Chang Photo Gallery
13. Communication between river and stone in June, 2004 at Cultural Bureau of Nantou County,
14. “Beautiful life of summer lotus” in July, 2004 at Taitung County Cultural Bureau
15. “Rise and fall of the trees in Taiwan” in September, 2004 at Cultural Bureau of Pingtung County,
16. “Snap-shots of the rice in Taiwan” in November, 2004 at Tainan City Cultural Bureau
17. “Love songs of the winter snow” in January, 2005 at Yilan County Cultural Bureau
18. “Paintings of the misty night and dawn” in April, 2005 at Heng Chang Photo Gallery
19. “Faces of Taiwan bridges” in June, 2005 at Kaohsiung County Cultural Bureau
20. “Waterfalls of Taiwan” in August, 2005 at Changhua County Cultural Bureau
21. “Explore of human body desire” in September, 2005 at Taoyuan County Cultural Bureau.
22. “Mystic performances on stage” in October, 2005 at Yunlin County Culture Bureau
23. “Charming birds of Taiwan” in February, 2006 at Hang Chang Photo Gallery
24. “Life of the lakes in Taiwan” in September, 2006 at Hsinchu County Cultural Bureau
25. “Puzzlement of window spaces” in October, 2006 at Chian-Huow Art Center
26. “Enlightenment of true or fake appearances” in January, 2007 at Taipei County Cultural Bureau
27. “Ever-changing clouds” in February, 2007 at Taipei Social Educatiin Center.
28, “Beauty of the butterflies” in March, 2007 at Heng Chang Photo Gallery
29. “Surreal world of digital photography” in July, 2007 at Kaohsiung City Cultural Bureau
30. “Lovely children” in August, 2007 at Kinmen County Cultural Bureau
31. “Black, White, Shadow and Highlight” in September, 2007 at Natiinal Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
32. “Taiwan Wang Ship fiesta” in December, 2007, Jazz Photo Gallery
33. “Pilgrimage to Mazu” in January, 2008 at Chang Photo Gallery
34. “Journey through the farm villages of Taiwan” in March, 2008 at Taichung City Cultural Bureau
35. “The changing of the fishing ports through time in Taiwan” in April, 2008 at Taichung County Cultural Bureau
36. “Gorgeous dazzling fireworks” in September, 2008 at Hang Chang Photo Gallery
37. “Joyous tour in Penghu island” in November, 2008 at Jazz Photo Gallery
38. “Exploration of Kinmen and Matsu islands” in February, 2009 at Hang Chang Photo Gallery
39. “Flourish bloom of lily” in March, 2009 at Shin-Tan Temple Library
40. “Visual effect of the color yellow” in April, 2009 at Kuang-Bau Cultural Gallery
41. “Taiwan traditional art of fiesta” in May, 2009 at Taiwan Arts Education Center
42. “Downfall of Taiwan mining” in June, 2009 at Miaoli County Tourism Bureau
43. Romantic images of Dan-Shweih in July, 2009 at Hang Chang Photo Gallery
44 “Rise and fall of the salt farms in Taiwan” in August, 2009 at Bengang Pastoral Gallery
45. “Shapes of rocks at northeast of Taiwan” in September, 2009 at Tainan County Cultural Center
46. “Native Taiwanese tribal culture” in October, 2009 Art Center in Taoyuan
47. “Mystery of river valleys in Taiwan” in November, 2009 at Keelung City Cultural Bureau
48. “Taiwan tea, now and then” in December, 2009 at Luzhou Arts Center
49. “Vicissitudes of Taiwan sugar factories” in January, 2010 at Jazz Photo Gallery
50. “The decline of tobacco business in Taiwan” in February, 2010 at Hsinchu City Art Museum
51. “Melody of the seasons along the cross-country road” in March, 2010 at the Natiinal Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
52. “The beauty of historical Tainan” in April, 2010 at Heng Chang Photo Gallery
53. “Diligent labor in Taiwan” in May, 2010 at Taipei Labor Education Center
54. “Nostalgia of Taiwan sauerkraut” in June, 2010 at Luo Dong Garden Gallery
55. “Yang-Ming-Shan natural attractions” in July, 2010 at Taipei City Hall Gallery
57. “Lush green along the cross-country road in northern Taiwan” in August, 2010 at Jí-Lín Elementary School Gallery
“沈啟源的心靈視界攝影展”感言
攝影從起始的記錄影像, 至今已昇華至藝術領域, 攝影師也可能成為一位重要的當代藝術家, 其間最大的分野在於”創作”的成份。 一般攝影師偏重於記錄, 也就是著重於外在客觀主體的重現或則加以修飾, 甚至於美化。而藝術家則致力於內心的觀想, 由體驗而產生創作, 是一種表現, 只是透過相機或電腦軟體等工具去處理或呈現一種思維, 一種意象或一種理念, 就像一個藝術家利用畫筆, 材料或其他工具去完成一幅作品一樣, 其結果是超乎”重現”的範疇, 所以真正的藝術攝影應不止於”自然的複製”。
當我”閱讀”沈啟源先生的攝影作品時, 我可以體會到一位藝術家的創作歷程, 從研習多種技巧(包括照相與後續處理), 再加入自己的想法(包括儒學, 佛禪與生活體驗)而能融入攝影創作中, 真是不可多得的藝術家。
這次 ”X” 現代美術館有緣展出沈啟源先生十年來的創作攝影, 分享給美國攝影界的同好們, 希望大家有機會用”心”去體會這位藝術家的心靈世界。
“X”現代美術館館長
劉白謹識
Review of Jorge O. Shen’s “My Spiritual Point of View” Photographic Exhibition
Photography has engaged in the art field after its beginning as recording of a subject. Today a photographer could become an important contemporary artist. It all depends on that if he/she could take “creativity” beyond the technical skill of photography. Normally a photographer will concentrate on “Recording” that means to capture the subject and modify it a little to make it more beautiful. But the photographic artist will try to start from thinking inside and create an image through the using of camera or software to accomplish the idea, the concept or the vision. It is just like the fine art painter who uses brushes or other tools and material just to create a great artwork. The conclusion is that a good fine art of photography should be beyond the “Duplication of the Nature”.
When I review the photographic artworks from Mr. Jorge O. Shen who is from Taiwan, I realize the life-long creation of the artist. He started with the learning from many photographic classes and workshops including the post production. Then he embedded his enriched life experience with his studies of Buddhism, Zen and Confucian into his creation of the artworks that make him an established photographic artist in Taiwan.
We are very glad to exhibit the selection from his past ten years creative artworks at our Museum X of Contemporary Art. We hope you could use your spiritual mind to try to enjoy the spiritual world of Mr. Jorge O. Shen.
Echo Lew
Director of the Museum X of Contemporary Art |
