Rao Wen-Zhen

In the Mountain・Mother series, I take traditional Eastern landscape painting as a point of departure, integrating the meticulous delicacy of fine-line (Gong-Bi) techniques to reinterpret the imagery of mountains. Through this process, I infuse the work with a feminine perspective and maternal energy. To me, mountains are not merely natural forms or aesthetic subjects—they are spiritual symbols: silent, Serenity, ever-present. They embody the qualities of feminine wisdom and nurturing power.

The capacity of women to embody the maternal is not solely derived from biological sex, but from an inner strength and resilience. This power is not rigid or aggressive, it is soft yet firm, just like water; steady and unshakable, just like mountains. Women often bear burdens in silence, offering care and support from behind the scenes. In doing so, they become a shield for families, communities, and life itself.

I see the mountain as a symbol of the maternal body because of its profound and embracing nature. In my work, the mountain at times resembles a breast, at times a protective chest. It is no longer just a magnificent landscape—it becomes an intimate, nurturing spiritual presence. These mountains carry the tenderness and strength of motherhood, echoing the deep, primordial bond between human beings and the Earth.

The red threads that float like drifting silk through my paintings symbolize umbilical cords, bloodlines, Infinite life cycle connections, and the extension of intention. These delicate lines weave slowly, outlining like a loom’s gentle rhythm—accumulating, structuring, and unfolding with quiet persistence. They steadily build relationships, subtly stitching together the energies of body, emotion, and cosmos. These lines are not merely formal elements, but a kind of ritualistic writing, anchoring the memory of the soul onto silk.

What I seek is a path of transformation through feminine energy—not against, but tolerance, not conquest, but steady receptivity. In a modern society dominated by masculine logic, the rhythms and wisdom of the feminine are often overlooked. Yet I believe it is this gentle and profound force—like the mountain: silent yet present, unshaken yet grounded—that truly nurtures life and nourishes the soul.

Through the Mountain・Mother series, I attempt to return to the connection with the maternal, the Earth, and the inner source. Though this connection may have been forgotten, it has never truly vanished. It quietly persists, waiting for us to once again feel, see, and remember.

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Education
● 2000 — M.F.A., Department of Fine Arts, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
● 1997 — B.F.A., Department of Fine Arts, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
· Bachelorof Fine Arts at Tunghai University

Solo Exhibitions
● 2018 — She — Sculpture & Gouache Exhibition by Peng Kuang-Chun × Rao Wen-Chen, Yinuo Art, Hsinchu, Taiwan
● 2017 — Fragrance of Earth — Solo Exhibition by Rao Wen-Chen, National Taiwan Arts Education Center, Taipei, Taiwan
● 2017 — 䊹.纖 — Solo Exhibition by Rao Wen-Chen, Le Le Bookstore, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2013 — Colorful Play — Solo Exhibition of Gouache by Rao Wen-Chen, Media Sculpture Art Space, Taipei, Taiwan
● 2003 — Mountain‧Mother — Gouache Solo Exhibition by Rao Wen-Chen, Creative Art Gallery, Nei-Li Senior High School, Taoyuan, Taiwan
● 2001 — Flowing Gouache — Solo Exhibition by Rao Wen-Chen, Dajia Zhongzheng Gallery, Taichung, Taiwan
● 1999 — Images of Birth — Solo Exhibition by Rao Wen-Chen, Art Center, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan

Group Exhibitions (Selected)
● 2024 — The Clamor of Solitude, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
● 2023 — Surging Ink — An International Journey of Quasi-Ink Painting, Department of Cultural Affairs, Taoyuan City Government, Taoyuan, Taiwan
● 2022 — Thousands of Ink Forms — Asia Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
● 2022 — Taoyuan Fine Arts Invitational Exhibition, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taoyuan City Government, Taoyuan, Taiwan
● 2021 — Surging Ink — Asia Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
● 2021 — Pan — Post-Trend International Exchange Exhibition, Korea Trust Association, Seoul, Korea
● 2021 — The 3rd International Art and Design Collaborative Exhibition (IADCE), Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
● 2020 — Thousands of Ink Forms — 2020 Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition, Taiwan Arts Education Center, Taipei, Taiwan
● 2020 — Dawn — NEAD Northeast Asia International Exchange Exhibition, W Art Museum, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea
● 2020 — Surging Ink — Asia Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition, Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2020 — Surging Ink — 2020 Taiwan-Korea Contemporary Ink International Exchange Exhibition, New Taipei Arts Center, New Taipei, Taiwan
● 2017 — Impermanence and the Ineffable — Taiwanese Contemporary Ink Exhibition, No.6 East Street Museum, Hangzhou, China
● 2017 — Gathering — Jing’an Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Shanghai Maritime Culture Center, Shanghai, China
● 2016 — Mist Kingdom — Feminine Context in Contemporary Ink, Art Space Cheng, Taipei, Taiwan
● 2016 — Mist Kingdom — Feminine Context in Contemporary Ink, Global Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2016 — Humanity and Literati — Fusion of Ink and Gouache at Tunghai University, National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan
● 2012 — 2nd Cross-Strait Nihonga and Gouache Academic Exhibition, Xiamen Art Museum, Xiamen, China
● 2012 — Splendor of Colors — Cross-Strait Gouache & Nihonga Exhibition, Tunghai University Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2012 — Feminine Language, Essence of Life — Contemporary Gouache Artists of Taiwan, Online Digital Exhibition, Chinyi University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2012 — Taoyuan Artists Invitational Exhibition, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
● 2010 — Taoyuan Artists Invitational Exhibition, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
● 2009 — 1st Cross-Strait Gouache and Nihonga Exhibition, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2005 — Alumni Exhibition – Gouache Group, Tunghai University Graduate Institute of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2005 — Trajectory, Genealogy, Star Map — 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Department of Fine Arts, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2004 — Elite Gouache Exhibition, Providence University Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2002 — Between Revival and Innovation — New Horizons in Taiwanese Gouache, Taipei County Cultural Affairs Bureau & Taichung Cultural Center, Taiwan
● 2001 — Flowing Gouache — New Directions in Gouache, Providence University Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2001 — 10+10=21 Taipei–Taichung Joint Exhibition, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2001 — Surface — Tunghai Aesthetic Movement, Taichung Port Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2000 — Joint Exhibition of NTNU & Tunghai University MFA Students, Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2000 — Gouache on Dadu Mountain, Taichung Port Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2000 — Masculine Voice, Feminine Art — Emerging Artists Exhibition, Taichung Port Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan
● 1999 — Origins of Gouache in Taichung, Wen-Ying Gallery, Taichung, Taiwan
● 1999 — Contemporary Erotic Art Exhibition, Wen-Ying Gallery, Taichung, Taiwan
● 1999 — Images of Birth — Joint Exhibition, Providence University Art Center, Taichung, Taiwan

Awards
● 2010 — Selected, Kaohsiung Award, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
● 2005 — Selected, New Visions in Taiwanese Art, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2001 — Selected, 18th Kaohsiung Art Exhibition, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
● 2000 — Grand Prize, Taipei County Art Exhibition (Gouache category), Taipei, Taiwan
● 2000 — Selected, 27th Taipei City Art Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan
● 1998 — Artist Grant, National Culture and Arts Foundation, Taiwan
● 1998 — Selected, 16th Kaohsiung Art Exhibition, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
● 1998 — First Prize (Taipei Award), 25th Taipei City Art Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan
● 1998 — Honorable Mention, Ministry of Education Literary and Artistic Creation Award (Gouache), New Taipei, Taiwan
● 1997 — Chang Ku-Nien Painting Scholarship, Taichung, Taiwan
● 1997 — 1st Prize in Gouache Category, Department of Fine Arts Student Exhibition, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan

Collections
● 2019 — First Light, Great Joy, Red Around the Finger, Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts, Taoyuan, Taiwan
● 2017 — Peach Mountain, National Taiwan Art Bank, Taichung, Taiwan
● 2008 — Swinging Pregnancy, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
● 1988 — Image of Birth, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan