ARTISTS / Chen-Dao Lee
1982 Born in Taipei, Taiwan
B.F.A., National Taiwan Art University, Department of Fine Art
M.F.A., National Taiwan Normal University, Department of Fine Art
Chen-Dao Lee (b. 1982) was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and is a doctoral candidate in Graduate School of Contemporary Visual Culture and Practice at National Taiwan University of Arts. Lee utilises multiple media, including painting, publishing, and directing, to explore the intersection between fine art and commercial visual production, proposing a practice that combines both popular and aesthetic values to showcase the relationship between art and contemporary society. Chen-Dao Lee has won the Takashi Murakami Geisai art award and has produced several art-related commercial films. His works have been exhibited at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles (2021), MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY in Tokyo (2020), Aki Gallery in Leipzig (2020), Jonathan LeVine Gallery in New York (2017). His art direction works have received Platinum Award at Houston International Film Festival (2017), Bronze Award at ADC Global Awards MOTION in New York (2017), and Best of the Best in Communication Design category at Red Dot Design Award in Germany (2017).
Chen-Dao Lee combines realistic symbols, exaggerated actions, and vivid forms to create a dramatic atmosphere that satirises the consumption reality of media and popular culture, empowering the originally plain images with a brand new impact. He juxtaposes various dualistic themes, such as male and female, classical and modern, ordinary and extraordinary, seeing and being seen, pornography and art… With his rich and playful aesthetics, Chen-Dao Lee responds to the profound influence of Japanese and American pop culture on Taiwan. In his early years of art life, he painted the erotic life of Taiwanese people in a classical composition and photorealistic lighting that seemed to be in Hollywood movies. In recent years, he has focused on female characters of Japanese and American films and subcultures, matching their delicate and charming faces with plain and ordinary bodies, deconstructing and criticising the male-dominated aesthetic definition and perspective with his strong style and colour contrasts.
Lee's paintings transcend the bonds of classical art, and sharply observe the popular culture and entertainment trends of the younger generation. With exquisite oil painting techniques, contemporary humour, and vivid colours, his art presents a strong tension that cannot be ignored. His works are not just artworks, but also a profound observation and reflection on contemporary society and culture. This breakthrough in traditional art expression allows viewers to gain unique insights and thoughts on contemporary life while enjoying the artwork.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020
Sleepless in Tokyo, Megumi Ogita Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2018 Super Power, Aki Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2017
Cha-Cha-Cha of Sienna, Aki Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2012
HEROES, Hdari Zingaro Gallery Taipei, Taiwan
2009
King’s Game, Aki Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
Lee, Chen-Tao’s solo exhibition, LiLi Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Portrait: Infinite and Beyond Group Exhibition, Touch Gallery, Hong Kong
2022
Art Collector Starter kit VIII, Corey Helford Gallery, California, USA
2021
Art Moster 2021, Taipei, Taiwan
ART TAIPEI 2021, Taipei, Taiwan
ANIMAMIX, Eslite Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
The Little Prince - 75th Anniversary Group Show, Corey Helford Gallery
15TH Anniversary Show, Corey Helford Gallery, California, USA
One Art Taipei 2021, Taipei, Taiwan
2020
Art Collector Starter kit VII, Corey Helford Gallery, California, USA
Reunion, Aki Gallery, Leipzig, Germany
Sweet 16, Corey Helford Gallery, California, USA
2018
ART in PARK HOTEL TOKYO 2018, Tokyo, Japan
2017
Keep Going - Contemporary Art Exhibition, iFG Square U Town, Taipei, Taiwan
《THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME》, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, USA
2015
ART 15 London’s New Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, Olympia Grand Hall, London, UK
2014
ART TAIPEI 2014, Taipei World Trade Center I, Taipei, Taiwan
Asian Realism II, AKI Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
Asian Realism II, YOSHIAKI INOUE GALLERY, Osaka, Japan
Young Art Taipei 2014-Taipei Contemporary Hotel Art Fair, Regent Taipei, Taiwan
ART Tainan 2014,Tayih Landis Hotel, Tainan, Taiwan
ART 14 London’s New Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, Olympia Grand Hall, London, UK
2013
ART TAIPEI 2013, Taipei World Trade Center I, Taipei, Taiwan
Symbiosis AKI Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2013 Young Art TAIPEI Taipei, Taiwan
ART Tainan 2013 Tayih Landis Hotel, Tainan, Taiwan
2012
Art Taipei 2012, Taipei World Trade Center I, Taipei, Taiwan
Young Art Taipei 2012, Sheraton-taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
Y.E.S.Taiwan IV - Young Emerging Stars Taiwan IV, AKI Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
Mancy’s Tokyo Art Nights, Tokyo, Japan
2011
Young Art Taipei 2011, Sunworld Dynasty Taipei Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan
2010
Finding New Stars,Taipei, Taiwan
Young Art Taipei 2010, Sunworld Dynasty Taipei Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan
Y.E.S Taiwan II --Young Emerging Stars, Taiwan, Aki Gallery, Taipei
《Geisai #14》, Big Site, Tokyo
2009
《Geisai Taiwan》, Taipei
National Elite Art Graduates, The Yu-hsiu Art Space, Hsinchu
Kaohsiung Awards, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Kaohsiung
2008
Karma: The Samsara of Contemporary Painting, The NTNU Gallery, Taipei
8 Stars of Fine Art, Capital Art Center, Taipei, Taiwan
2007
Fancying self as Taiwanese, Aki Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2006
Development of Young Artist’s painting realistically, Metropolitan Art Gallery, Tainan
SELECTED AWARDS
2009
《Geisai Taiwan》 Second Price
Kaohsiung Awards - Excellent Awards
Taipei County Art Awards - Excellent Awards
2005
Cathay Life Arts – First Price