Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei

“I am often awestruck by the power of the creator, and am influenced by Eastern philosophies that pay respect to nature. I feel that human are small in the face of nature, and one must learn to be selfless, compassionate, and giving.” Earth, air, water, and fire are the center subjects of my art. I live in New York City-it is close to the ocean, and I’ve developed a deep affinity for the sea, which has also evoked sentiments in me for what has across on the other side of the ocean. Majestic mountains in Europe and the U.S. those I’ve seen with spectacular ridgelines or forms are what I want to pay homage to. The sky’s ever changing atmosphere, fire’s brilliance, and all the energies embodied in nature are the most things that I am in awe of.

---- Leigh Wen Born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1959, Leigh Wen is an artist that resides in the U.S. She received her MFA from the State University of New York at Albany in 1994, and has served as a cultural ambassador for nearly two decades during the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations. She has exhibited in 13 American embassies, consulates, and other government institutions around the world, including Jordan, Malaysia, Singapore, Namibia, Botswana, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Denmark, and Poland. A recipient of several distinctions in the U.S., she was awarded Artist Grants by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation in 1999 and 2005, and was invited by First Lady Laura Bush to visit the White House in 2005. A frequent guest from a select list of 60 artists in the U.S. invited to the White House’s annual art and culture reception, Leigh is an artist that is recognized and valued in the U.S. for her achievements in art. Leigh lives in Big Apple- New York City in the U.S. and has great ambitions for making a mark on the international stage of art. She also frequently travels back to Taiwan and pays close attention to its social developments. On the surface, she is constantly moving between her two “homes” in the U.S. and Taiwan, but she sees life as a never-ending journey. In addition to changing one’s dwelling place, more importantly are the experiences and rewards acquired from connections with the world on the outside and one’s personal inner growth, and also the complex and unpredictable interactions between the two. Different creative expressions and presentation approaches are incorporated in Transit‧Transformation ─ Leigh Wen Solo Exhibition, showcase the artist’s unique personal experiences and her philosophical enlightenment for life. The arrangement of the artworks on view begins with two of her latest installation works those are displayed at the MOCA, Taipei plaza, the audience guided on an exploration of art’s diverse features and different experiences in life. The entire exhibition is divided into the following four themes: Connections between flowers and women; Dialogues between the mountains and water; Spatial installation; and audio-visual theater, and the additional incorporation of creative design elements. Leigh’s objective for this solo exhibition is to showcase her latest artworks meticulously echoing with the space of MOCA, Taipei. Moreover, the exhibition also reflects the different phases throughout the artist’s 30-year career, including her inner journey and artistic developments, with an unwavering feminine stamina flowing through her artworks as they go through transit and transformation.