Zhong Chen

Zhong Chen was born in Zhongshan, China and arrived in Australia at the age of 19 in 1989. Zhong's early paintings "Stupid Laughing Series" 1996 conveyed the exploration of his dual identity of being a Chinese born Australian artist. Since these works, Zhong has continued to explore issues of cultural identity, transcultural identity, belonging and place.

The pixel paintings incorporate images of Chinese portraits, animals and landscape, each of which is central to the genre of traditional Chinese ink brush painting. Zhong has painted Chinese beauties, Peking opera characters, Door Gods and Imperial Dogs in his recent body of paintings. By using traditional Chinese inspired images Zhong conveys a sense of his cultural identity. The choices of images are pop, as the folk art of China are an important part of the everyday and popular culture.

Woodblock prints and paper cut outs are placed on windows and doors in China. Door god images are placed on doors to protect from the evil spirits. The "Romeo and Juliet" paintings show images of traditional inspired Chinese lovers relating to Shakespeare's romantic tradgedy.

The world is forever changing and globalisation is creating a society with faster technology and a faster pace of processing this information. The use of computers allows us to interact more readily and more globally. Zhong uses the pixel as a symbol of the contemporary world that we live in.

1998 Masters of Fine Arts, Chelsea School of Art
1996 Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours), University of South Australia
1994 Diploma of Visual Arts, North Adelaide School of Art

Solo Exhibitions
2007
Hill Smith Gallery, Adelaide
Eva Bruer Art Dealer, Sydney
2006
'Small Paintings', Eva Breuer Galllery, Sydney
Greenhill Galleries, Perth
2005
'Shanghai Bund', Greenhill Galleries, Perth
Eva Breuer Gallery, Sydney
Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne
International Studio and Curatorial Program, New York
2004
'Shanghai Summer', Art Galleries Schubert, Gold Coast
'Shanghai Night', Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne
2003
'Zhong Chen Recent Paintings', Eva Breuer Gallery, Sydney
2002
Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne
2001
Eva Breuer Gallery, Sydney
The Alternative Museum, New York
'Juliet,Juliet', Adelaide Central Gallery, Adelaide
'Shaolin Spin Kick Combo', Studio 12, 200 Gertrude Street, Melbourne
2000
'Bird and Flower Portraiture', Span Galleries, Melbourne
1999 and 1997
'Recent Paintings', Adelaide Central Gallery, Adelaide
1995
'Second Journey', Nexus Gallery, Adelaide

Selected Group Exhibitions
2008
Finalist, Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, 2008
Finalist, The Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, 2008
Finalist, Doug Moran Prize, 2008
2007
The Arcibald, Art Gallery of NSW
The Wynne Art Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
Sulman Art Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
2006
The Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2005
The Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize, Bendigo, Victoria
'Squared', Greenhill Galleries, Perth
2004
Xin Nian -Contemporary Australian Chinese Art, The Response Gallery,
Federation Square, National Gallery of Victoria
SBS Art Award, Manningham Gallery, Melbourne;
Migration Museum, Melbourne
Cromwells Art Prize, Sydney, Melbourne, Washington
2003
Redlands Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
Salon des Refuses, Sydney
2002
SBS Federation Art Award, Federation Square, National Gallery of Victoria
2001
Salon des Refuses, Sydney
'Mediated Portraits', Mass Gallery, Melbourne
Alice Art Prize, Alice Springs
Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Sydney
2000
Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne
Chemistry : South Australian Art 1990 - 2000 : The Faulding Exhibition,
Art Gallery of South Australia
Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, Geelong Art Gallery, Victoria
Conrad Jupiters 2000 Art Prize, Gold Coast Gallery
1998
'MA onA4' The Pump House Gallery, London
Masters Exhibition, Chelsea School of Art, London
1997
Visy Board Art Prize, Barossa Valley, South Australia
1995
Helpmann Academy Exhibition, Adelaide and Indonesia

Awards - selected
2005
Australia Council Grant to attend a three month residency at
The International Studio and Curatorial Program, New York
2002
SBS Fedeation Art Award, Federation Square, Melbourne
2001
Australia Council Greene Street, New York Studio Residency
2000
The Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant
Conrad Jupiters 2000 Art Prize - Acquisition- Gold Coast City Art Gallery
200 Gertrude Street Residency 2001-2003
1999
Premier's Award - Emerging Artist of the Year - ARTSA
1997
Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship
1996
Major Prize Winner - Emerging Artist award - Adelaide - Tour to Paris

Collections
Art Gallery of South Australia
Gold Coast City Art Gallery
Western Mining, Australia
Artbank, Sydney
F.H.Faulding and Co. Adelaide;
Macquarie University.
BHP,
SBS,Melbourne
PrivateCollections in Japan, China, Hong Kong and Australia