Biography

 

 

My name is Jonathan  Yuchen Shih and was born in Nanjing in 1948. I came to Taiwan with my parents when I was two years old. My family was from a traditional scholarly one, and I was influenced by my mother who studied painting very hard since she was young..  therefore, the influence of which opened my interest in painting. In leisure time, I liked to pick up my brush to paint, but most of time, just focused on copying the albums of famous Chinese artists' works. After leaving the workplace in 2000 and retiring, I started to study painting as a career. In 2002, I went to the Art Department of Langara University in Toronto, Canada, and followedProfessor Hanbury studied the history of Western art, and during the summer vacation, I visited the paintings of famous artists in major museums and galleries in Europe, the United States, Canada, etc., doing field sketches and sketching, and laying a foundation for the basic skills of painting!In 2003,  I went to Nanjing University of the Arts, China to study oil painting. I accepted the concept and practical guidance of Professor Zhuang Tianming's rapid artistic development. The level of appreciation is transformed into the factors of art, and it is directly expressed through the brush. After this training, I  have accumulated more than 100 sketches and oil paintings, and traveled to Xinjiang to learn about the customs of people's livelihood and make on-the-spot sketches. I deeply experienced tenacious perseverance. The enterprising spirit can indeed stimulate the creative potential! For the encouragement of the teachers at that time and the discussion with the classmates, I will never forget it!2003 Nanjing Art Research Institute, accepted the sculpture instruction from Master Wu Weishan, learned how to express emotions from touching the soil, and conveyed the sculptures to create flexible and expressive works!2006 In the studio of Professor Chen Jingrong of the Fine Arts Department of Taipei Normal University, he served as the monitor for more than 7 years. Apart from painting, he also made friends in art and literature. I am very grateful!In 2008, Taipei Normal University accepted the sketching instruction of a Russian professor, and painted with more relaxed but delicate brushstrokes. The style of painting has a new experience and style that is different from the past!In 2010, I joined the Taiwan branch of the Japanese Image Painting School to learn a more free style concept, express the "figurative form" and "abstract idea" of the soul with oil paint techniques, and describe the deepest emotions and life stories!2012 Worked as an art teacher at Xizhi Community University in Taipei County for two years2013 Worked as an art teacher in the Promotion Department of Taipei Cultural University for one yearIn 2017, I went to Tokushima University in Japan to participate in the image painting school study. Two works won the prize in the competition. I am deeply honored! 
Since 2018, I have determined to express my inner emotions and life stories through the creation of abstract paintings to show my independence and freer style also try to resonate with more people by the paintings that can be viewed in 360 degrees!

​

2022/6/5 -16 Invited by Belgrade Cultural Association for the Exhibition

and won the award for the Best Video Presentation at Belgrade Art Salon.

2022/8/1-10/31 Participated XL-Art@Marx Art Exhibition August-October 2022 in Vienna

2022/11/17-25 Participated Belgrade Cultural Association Autumn Exhibition in Seria , and became the Artist of honor for 2022.

2023/3/24-3/31 Solo Exhibition "Sparkle of Life" at Kyla X Einziart Gallery, Mannheim, Germany

​

​Jonathan Shih's solo exhibition "The Sparkle of Life," featuring a series of abstract acrylic paintings, was a success in Germany in March. Shih, a former vice president of Bankers Trust and First Interstate, used dark and bright colors to express his inner thoughts and emotions in his paintings, conveying powerful feelings to the audience. The exhibition received high praise from guests, including Berlin museum curator Alexander, who was moved by Shih's unique and philosophical approach to abstract art. German artist Johannes also commended Shih's ability to express complex ideas through simple forms.

 

​

​

​