Chu-Jen Teng

I was born in May 1963 on a small island near Taiwan, Penghu. My family is poor and I have many brothers and sisters. I started doing odd jobs during the winter and summer holidays at the age of 13 ; I knew clearly what my path would be, it would be difficult. When I was 19 years old, my mother died, I borrowed money from a bank and my family to finally get into art school.

Between 1984 and 2007 I worked in a company that makes carved gifts. After a long training in sculpture and continuous personal learning, my interest in sculpture has not diminished, it has become even more intense. I resigned in 2008 and I began to actively study artistic creation, design and jewelry creation. By participating in contests, I was able to get a lot of prizes. I also organized a solo exhibition and dozens of joint exhibitions. Since that moment ... I make two types of creation at once: sculpture and jewelry.

Since very small and because of poverty, I often moved. As I grew up, I developed a taste for travel. What I have seen and heard has become the nutrient of my creation. So, under the encouragement of my little brother, I came to Paris in January 2017 to study French and I continue to pursue my goal to have a better level.

"The mother-child relationship and her state of mind has always been the theme of my sculptures.

The mother-child relationship: My work explains in detail the care, tolerance and blessing that children have. A child is a "gift" from God, it is not a "thing" that parents can do what they want. In fact, only by listening to the child's voice can we give him positive advice and care, encouragement and support; I believe that like that ... we can allow a child to take the path of a happy life.

State of mind: Beauty does not lie in the face but in everything a person has experienced. The things of the past have marked his heart and gradually fade, making him even stronger and more beautiful!

My solo exhibition of sculpture in Paris has just finished in June 2019 and from conception to completion, it has been prepared for over a year. The exhibition received positive feedback. This encouraged me to make more effort to present more works.

The difficulties I went through allowed me to learn to accept the facts. Do not force things! When the opportunity arises, do the maximum! Listen to the voice of the heart and go forward, and experience life with "Zen". Understanding life is not a matter of duration but of pursuit of excellence.