Interview: Chang Chun-Chieh
Luca Curci talks with Chang Chun-Chieh during FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES, second appointment of BORDERS Art Fair 2020, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

Chun-Chieh Chang is an artist who was diagnosed with hearing impairment at an early age. Chun-Chieh was invited to participate in many group exhibitions during university. Chun-Chieh was interviewed by television and newspapers in Taiwan inspiring other students with impaired hearing with his story. Most of his works are now in the collection of public and private institutes and hotels include オークラプレステージ台北 (The Okura Prestige Taipei), Taiwan Research Institute of Arts, Kaohsiung, private collection in Taiwan. Chun-Chieh also obtained a scholarship from University and other foundations include Special Education Student Scholarship and Li-Ming Cultural Enterprise Foundation. In October 2016, Chun-Chieh was invited to give a lecture on his artwork with Sam Tsai from MUZE architecture/space/interior design, a private organization. The presentation was about the creative concept behind the work and how to connect interior spaces with artworks. In 2018, Chun-Chieh studying at the School of Visual Arts, New York. He is possibly the first hearing impaired student from Taiwan to pursue an MFA at the School of Visual Arts and receive Taiwan ministry of education Studying Abroad Scholarship. He graduated in May 2020. “I am particularly fond of walls of Brutalist buildings when it is raining. The water drips down along the covers, leaving traces that gradually stain, forming shapes and lines over long periods. That is why I choose cement material, it is unpredictable if you noticed my blank section, you can discover and look closely at things, see the flaws as things begin to break down and approach the primordial state. Every work shapes like architecture exterior capture part or imagining architecture. The edges of buildings made of concrete gradually shatter. My process does not deal with the edge, but rather with cracks and the imperfection of the surfaces. For me, greatness exists in the inconspicuous and overlooked details”.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Chang Chun-Chieh – Imperfect, is my core.

LC – What’s your background?
CC – I’m from Taiwan, I was diagnosed with hearing impairment at an early age. I received Taiwan ministry of education Studying Abroad Scholarship and go to New York to study MFA Fine Arts in the School of visual Arts. Recently, I graduated in May.

LC – What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
CC – Study MFA in New York and be influenced by some brutalist architecture and expose the essence, definitely. Before coming to New York, my work’s core point was imperfection. Now, I will combine two points, imperfection and brutalism, in my future works.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
CC – Most are building walls, or on the ground.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
CC – For me, the works are almost unpredictability. Easy to fail. So I need to create a lot of works and choice.

LC – Which is the role the artist plays in the society? And the contemporary art?
CC – For me, I want to explore the essence, essentials, or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts: that is what I want to show to the people. I think I prefer contemporary art.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of preexisting works?
CC – Those are from my early works, important period.

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How is it connected to the theme of the entire festival?
CC – My early work’s core point is imperfection, so I think is well linked to this exhibition. Unfortunately, some time ago I had a work called “Fragment”, but now it is sold out. I think that work was super suitable for this exhibition.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?
CC – I think it is good for me!

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
CC – Maybe ITSLIQUID can provide an art residency for the people who join from other countries.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
CC – Absolutely it is a good opportunity for artists. Especially, Covid-19 influences many people. So I think is a rare opportunity.