The connection between Chang Chihchung and Soka Art began in 2012 during the Soka so Young Artist Call for Submission Exhibition, followed by Chang’s solo exhibition in 2014 at Soka Art Tainan and 2018 at Soka Art Taipei. Over the eight years of our collaboration, we have witnessed the growth of this artist with pride as his works were selected for the Kaohsiung Award, National Art Exhibition, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts Young Artist Collection, Taiwan Art Bank Collection and more.

With a rich and multi-faceted literary imagination, the artist has dabbled with various creative media, such as painting, creative writing, digital imaging and spatial installation. Chang has spent numerous hours collecting and rearranging anecdotal historical stories, field studies, and historical data into his works, which he uses to transform an exhibition venue into a documentary with a grand narrative. Viewers are prompted to excavate and explore, inspiring reflection on history, civilization and nature.

Chang’s abundant creative fuel originates from his experiences as an artist in residence at villages in Taiwan’s Penghu, South Korea, Nepal, Norway, and Finland, as well as participation in international cross-sector investigative studies. The core exploration of his artworks does not stray far from strong emotional connections with the land and humanitarian concerns. In 2020, his brand new solo exhibition PORT OF FATA MORGANA employs his usual artistic style filled with a sense of nostalgia and melancholy.

Starting from his 2017 arctic voyage and art residency research project at the Kaohsiung Pier-2 Art Center in the following year, the artist embarked on a two-year art project on his own model ship. Using the ship as a symbol, port as the metaphor, and clever arrangements of paintings, images and spatial installations, Chang outlined within the Soka space an ambiguous horizon of the Kaohsiung southern industrial port that is perpetually shifting at the visual boundaries.

The three-act play structure of the exhibition interweaves family memories, field studies, documentary research, and oral history. The artist’s vision extends across family, city, and nation, gazing at the man-made bustling harbor city where migrants and passersby once stood while working hand-in-hand for a better future. In the end, however, they discovered that the reality is only like a mirage shining at a distance. That so-called homeland, that port city on the opposite side was a Fata Morgana - a complex mirage even more fragmented, spectacular, rare and illusory.

PORT OF FATA MORGANA – Chang Chihchung Solo Exhibition will take place from 8/22(Sat) to 9/26(Sat), 2020. At 2 PM on 8/22 (Sat), the artist will be attending the opening ceremony.  “Taste of the Sea” will be provided to celebrate the “Art Voyage”. Ready your tickets for boarding and enjoy this event!