Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
and I chose the one less traveled by.
This makes great differences.

In 1989, Hung Chih-Sheng decided to settle at Jioufen. "I will do what I want to do and to realize my own dream. " In that year, at the age of 28, this mountain city becomes the inspiring site for his creation.

 

Spring Fog of Shuinan Pit, Keelung Mountain
73 x 61 cm | 2010 - 2011

 

Choujing Park of Keelung Mountain
73 x 61 cm | 2011

Unsettled Life for the Art

Born in the early 1960s in the countryside, Fenyuan of Changhua, he studied in four elementary schools and two junior high schools.From Changhua to Taipei, in that era of material scarcity, he studied and earned his own living since his childhood. When the youth at his age was preparing the entrance exam to universities, he was preparing his driving license exam. His sense asked him to make a living; his sensitivity drew him to painting. His wish during the childhood was to be either a farmer or a painter. He now is not a farmer but he lives in the farmer's way, unsettled for the art creation.

His artist friend said, Hung Chih-Sheng can make money with his left hand and paint with his right hand. You can't sell the cow and drink the milk. So in his life, he concentrated on making a living for a period of time. When he could support himself, he will focus on his painting.

There are two types of painters: one will die without painting and another just cannot stop painting. Hung Chi-Sheng has dear friends that fit the former and he is the latter who is always longing for painting. He feels uncomfortable without the smell of oil painting. People refer him as an artist, But he said he is a person that works with painting, a painter.

Inspiration for artists is like what water and grass for the Nomad; you have to go where inspires you the most.

For some jobs, to be successful, they require 90% hard work and 10% talents. But for artistic work, you need to have 70-80% talents. Art creation is like herding the cattle. Inspiration for the artists is like grass and water for the nomad; you have to go where inspires you the most. The road of art creation of Hung Chi-Sheng works this way; he often carried his paint and devices to look for Inspiration. He even went to China, but he still felt themes related to Taiwan inspire him the most. The beautiful scenery In China could not touch him. The beautiful scene of Guilin makes the ideal theme of painting and it is like the paradise on the earth. But Guilin is too far away from us. It is unreal.

In 1979, he followed his painting teacher to arrive at Jioufen to paint. Nine years later, he came to the same place but the mountain city was quieter. On the way with the painting teacher to the mountain for painting, he arrived at Jioufen after the bumping traffic and saw the beauty in the dark. He felt In love with it at the first sight. There were many beautiful houses, but where were people?? He did not know here is the hometown of gold mining.

 

Qingbian Rd., Jioufen | 65 x 53 cm | 1990 - 1996

 

Shouchi Rd. Jioufen | 54 x 46 cm | 1990 - 1996

 

Jioufen | 53 x 65 cm | 1990 - 1996

An Old House
and Its New Owner

The empty houses, the elderly, the kids, cats and dogs… It is still beautiful. When asking for the direction, Hung Chih-Sheng glanced at a big broken house and in front of the house, there was a beautiful cherry tree, a beautiful stone wall feeling like a castle. He remember the original owner has the family name Wang. After buying this building, the traveler settled down here The second spring of Hung began in Jioufen.

By the chance, another old house at the end of Jioufen was also owned by him, a young painter. The old house is now registered as a historical building by Cultural Affairs Bureau. The building time is now unknown but it was regarded as the oldest building in Jioufen, the leader of Jioufen, the residency of Wong Shan-ying. Later it was rebuilt as Shuichixian Clinic. Now it is Jioufen Teahouse. The history is composed of a series of accidental results. It is the ongoing process.

The previous generation artists settled down in Danshui and this generation artists lives now in Jioufen.

After making a living to support himself in the nine-year period, Hung returned to Jioufen. Jioufen is quieter and more silence filled in the city. It was like a beautiful mountain city in the air. After the sun set and the street lamps were on, Jioufen became more beautiful. Hung decided to settle down here.

His painter friends were joking that the previous generation artists settled down in Danshui and for this generation, Jioufen gathered many artists. The paintings about Jioufen are always popular because here is the hometown of gold mining. Danshui is like the pioneer and now Jioufen takes down the heritage tradition. In the past painters who never painted about Danshui cannot be referred to as painters and now for painters, you have to paint Jioufen.

In Danshui, the historical streets, sea port, semi-mountain city, and sunset are the ideal themes for painting.

 

Wushi Ally, Jioufen | 53 x 46 cm | 2004

 

Summer, Keelung Mountain, Jioufen
46 x 53 cm | 1990 – 1996

Jioufen, the Gift
for Master Painters to Be

Jioufen is full of the culture of miners. The dustpan shape mountain used to gather 50,000 settlers who lived here to work. Jioufen, the gift for master painters to be, has its significant meaning.

When photographers shoot the photo of Jioufen, it takes them three days. But for painting Jioufen, three months are not enough. Painters often stay here for years. They need to be a part of land, people, and scenery. They need to have sentimental feelings toward Jioufen in order to paint the contents and the stories.

Film makers, writers, and painters love to portrait stories of Jioufen. The scenery of Jioufen has different layers of beauty that impresses many people. People in Jioufen are so warm and often touch the heart of others.

Writing by Seedesign