Lee Chin-Sheng

Born in Yunlin, Taiwan in 1962, Lee Chin-Sheng’s artworks mainly focus on characterization. Depicting childhood, rural life and social environment from the 1940s to 1960s, he adopts simple and vivid characters to present children’s characteristics and to express his interpretation of beauty. 

There is a very deep connection between clay and human beings. Clay somehow marks the trajectory of human development and the birth of civilization. Therefore, Lee applies this ancient and time-honored material to illustrate his memories of life. He tries hard to break from tradition, while creating new themes and forms. Instead of deliberately following the rules, he pursues the inner spiritual expressions by materials. His form of interpretation seems to walk on the edge between styles of traditional and pop, yet with a distinctive smell of the times. His artworks are collected by New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, National Center for Traditional Arts and the HCG Culture and Education Foundation. 

In 2014, Lee suffered from myocardial infarction. Although he survived, the accident led to severe amnesia and dementia. This exhibition features the childhood collection he created before the illness. 

1962

Born in Yunlin, Taiwan

Graduated from the Department of Crafts & Design, National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan

Graduated with the Master of Crafts, National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan

1993

Established Starytower Pottery Studio, Yingge, Taiwan

1995

Gold Prize in the 4^th Golden Ceramic Award by the HCG Culture and Education Foundation, Taiwan

Second Prize in the 5^th Ethnic Crafts Award by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan

1997

Merit Award in the 51^st National Arts Exhibition, Taiwan

1998

Third Prize in the 1^st Traditional Crafts Award by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan

1999

Honorable Mention in the 2^nd Traditional Crafts Award by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan

2000

Solo Exhibition, Cultural Affairs Department of New Taipei City Government, Banqiao, Taiwan

Solo Exhibition, Taichung City Huludun Cultural Centre, Taichung, Taiwan

2001

National Museum of Oriental Art, Rome, Italy

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, USA

Centre Culturel de Taiwan à Paris, France

2003

Judges’ Award in the 2^nd Korea International Biennial, Korea

2004

Solo Exhibition, Taipei Main Station Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

Judges’ Award in the 1^st Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Taiwan

Third Prize in the 4^th National Crafts Award by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan

2005

Solo Exhibition, Taichung Public Library, Taichung, Taiwan

Honorable Mention in the 5^th National Crafts Award by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan

2006

The 2^nd Da Dun Arts and Crafts Master, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taichung City Government, Taiwan

2008

Bronze Award in the Taiwan Gold Teapot Prize, Taiwan

2009

Honorable Mention in Taiwan Craft Competition, Taiwan

2010

“Fire & Flower” Solo Exhibition of Lee Chin-Sheng, New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan

Solo Exhibition, Contemporary Ceramics Gallery, Miaoli, Taiwan

2011

Second Prize in Taiwan Craft Competition, Taiwan

“Centenary Glamour” The Joint Ceramics Exhibition of Lee Chin-Sheng and Hsu Ming Shiang”, National Defense University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

2012

“A Poetic Lion” Lee Chin-Sheng Ceramics Exhibition, Taichung City Dadun Cultural Centre, Taichung, Taiwan