
Photo by Lien Szu Po / EGG
ZHEN-YOU HUNG
(b. 1992, Taiwan)
Zhen You Hung continuously explores the profound interconnection between the body, perception, and life energy through painting, sculpture, and meticulously curated exhibitions. In recent years, he has centered his artistic practice around the concept of "breath," a theme that originates from his introspection during the pandemic era and reflections on the dynamics of collective experience. Drawing from personal experiences and insights accumulated over different life stages, Hung processes these impressions and translates them into a series of works that materialize his evolving creative trajectory. His artistic development has transitioned from early photorealism to abstraction, seeking to render the organic landscapes of personal perception tangible while addressing the fundamental question of how the body, as a sensory entity, interacts with both internal and external worlds to establish a renewed dialogue.
In his creative process, Hung channels the energy derived from lived experiences. His earlier series, Scent, serves as a record of incidents encountered during his alternative military service in a fire station, capturing fleeting emotions through rapidly executed sketches. These initial impulses, when reintroduced into the act of painting, engage in a reciprocal dialogue with the artist's inner self, eventually evolving into the core motif of his recent works—"breath." Like an expansive mycelial network, this concept extends outward, giving rise to subthemes such as Tactility, which will further develop into a tightly interwoven sensorial network in his future practice.
Employing a de-formalized aesthetic as his medium, Hung’s works achieve a balance between low-saturation tones and intense, dynamic energy, between chaos and order, the visible and the invisible, the physical and the spiritual. His exploration positions "perception" as a bridge between life and space, where the rhythm of inhalation and exhalation functions not only as a conduit between the individual and the surrounding environment but also as a key to self-awareness and existential inquiry. Through this series, he invites viewers into an introspective and meditative realm, prompting them to reconsider the boundaries between perception and the external world.
Zhen You Hung is dedicated to examining the structures and interactions of contemporary society, engaging with themes such as social language, meditation, mysticism, and positive psychology. His works interpret human connection and spiritual resonance through an affirmative lens, addressing racial identity, the future of humanity, and the intersection of individual and collective consciousness. By merging figuration and abstraction, and employing a dynamic interplay of acrylic, oil paint, and charcoal, he investigates the relationship between light and energy flow within painting. While continuing the 20th-century discourse on the synthesis of Eastern and Western aesthetics, Hung forges a new contemporary perspective on sensory experience, establishing a deeply personal yet universally resonant connection between individual narratives and broader societal dialogues.
Group Exhibitions
2023 First Bloom, TARTCH Art Space, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
2015 Y.E.S Taiwan, Aki gallery, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Collaboration
2022 DVINE, Limited wine label collaboration, TAIWAN
2021 Movie"The Fall" International Edition Poster collaboration, International Film Festival
2020 CHANG QUN Construction building lobby case, Chang Qun City, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Tactile, Gallery FUNC, SHANGHAI, CHINA
2023 Breath, PTT space, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
2021 Odor, LIGHTWELL, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
2020 Odor preface, memes, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Dual Exhibitions
2022 Rooms, HUNG Zhen-You and ZHENG Er-Qi Dual Exhibition, PTT space, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Education
2017 B.F.A. Department of Fine Arts, Chinese Culture University, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Honor
2014 The 16th Union Culture & Art foundation Young Artist Award, selected
2013 Taoyuan Fine Arts Foundation, selected
Art Fairs
2022 Art021, PTT space, SHANGHAI, CHINA
2022 TaipeiDangdai, Asia art center, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
2022 TaipeiDangdai, PTT space, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
2017 Young Art Taipei, Aki gallery, Sheraton Hotels, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
2016 Young Art Taipei, Aki gallery, Sheraton Hotels, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
2015 Young Art Taipei, Aki gallery, Sheraton Hotels, TAIPEI, TAIWAN