It’s not uncommon to see oil paintings on canvasses, but it’s unusual to see them on kitchenware, chairs, handkerchiefs, bags, and other household items. But in Taiwan, there is a grandmother who paints on anything.
Please watch the following video Wang Chen Min-chu:
Born in 1927 in the countryside of Tainan County in southern Taiwan, Wang Chen Min-chu (王陳明珠) used to be an elementary school teacher in her hometown. After relocating to Taipei City in the 1960s for her husband’s career, she was keen on learning a wide variety of new things in this metropolitan city, including making buns, dressmaking, floral arrangements, and hairdressing.
She eventually ran a beauty salon in Taipei for about 10 years in the 1970s. She was considered one of the first hairdressers to introduce Audrey Hepburn’s mushroom-shaped hairstyle to Taiwan. She was once dubbed the “hair doctor” because she treated hair deterioration for her customers.
After her beauty salon closed due to family reasons, she started exploring oil painting to express the strong emotions and feelings that were deep in her heart and mind. One day in 1987, while attending an exhibit along with her husband, she noted one of the works created by prominent Chinese master Huang Jun-Bi (黃君璧, 1898-1991).
Because her husband didn’t agree to purchase the expensive piece, she thought of learning to paint for herself. She soon signed up for a class organized by the Taipei City government. Because of her passion, she attended the classes for about four years to improve her skills.
Taiwan’s grandmother who paints on anything
In this way, she embarked on her oil painting journey. Besides traditional canvases, she also uses cutting boards, frying pans, chairs, benches, handkerchiefs, bags, and other kitchenware just for fun.
Nonetheless, and much to her surprise, her paintings impressed many of her relatives and friends, who displayed them in their homes. Inspired by the positive feedback from others, she devoted more time to her new hobby.
In early 2017, a young artist who works for a gallery in Taipei happened to see Wang Chen’s paintings on Facebook and was deeply impressed. Through the efforts of this young artist, Wang Chen is holding her first exhibition at Legends Digital Services Corp. in Taipei from November 1 to December 31, 2017.
Among her works on exhibit, one piece, entitled The Homeland at Twilight (黃昏的故鄉), has intrigued many viewers. A witness to World War II and the harsh plight during the martial law period in Taiwan, Wang Chen uses paintbrushes and blades to express her deep-rooted feelings on canvas. This piece depicts the scenarios of expats who were nostalgic for the good old days in their homeland from afar.
In fact, The Homeland at Twilight is a famous Taiwanese song with a touching melody, originally adapted from Japan. In the painting, several old houses are situated in the middle of a wheat field where villagers are painstakingly farming under 25 suns.
Though Wang Chen Min-chu is quite elderly, she is still enthusiastic about learning different painting techniques, including realism, pastiche, and abstract.
About four years ago, she encountered a local artist who greatly appreciated her talents. Shortly after that, she started to learn random painting techniques from him. She is currently working on her self-portrait and said it would be memorable for her family.
Wang Chen Min-chu says painting has truly enriched her life, and she will continue to create more works. She emphasized that all the proceeds from selling her works will be donated to charities and minority groups.
Wang Chen Min-chu is a vivid example of lifelong learning and a positive attitude toward life. Her great compassion is an inspiration, and will surely be remembered by many people.
Update: The elderly painter passed away in February 2024 at the age of 98. Throughout her long and illustrious career, she created over 50 exquisite paintings, each a testament to her unparalleled talent and dedication to her craft. While the artist may have departed this world, her legacy endures, serving as a beacon of inspiration for her loved ones, both family and friends.
