ZHU Men-Zhen: The Way I Waver
Jing You《命運花園》｜當代藝術油畫與新興女性藝術家
ZHU Men-Zhen: The Way I Waver
2026 Sep 19 — Oct 25
ZHU Men-Zhen’s New Solo Exhibition “The Way I Waver” Opens at Hiro Hiro Art Space: Revealing Self-Exploration and Life’s Trajectory Beneath the Brushstrokes
Hiro Hiro Art Space is proud to present artist ZHU Men-Zhen’s latest solo exhibition, “The Way I Waver,” from September 19 to October 25, 2026. The exhibition features a new series of works, presenting the artist’s profound reflections on the nature of creation, psychological fluctuation, and states of living during a period of transition — leaving academia, returning to family life, and stepping into the workforce.
Unconcealed Marks of the Process: Pencil Traces That Reveal Inner Thought
In this exhibition, compared to her past work, ZHU’s new pieces present pencil strokes, areas of blank space, and traces of alteration and correction in a more direct and candid manner. Through the transformation of these traces, the artist re-examines her own creative motivations during the painting process — which parts brought pure self-satisfaction, and which parts concealed a desire for attention and recognition from others.
The traces left on the canvas are not merely visual layers; they honestly reveal the artist’s process of judgment and choice at the moment of creation, the focused enjoyment of handling materials, and the quiet, private process of sharing her inner turbulence.
A True Narrative After Leaving School: Seeking the Best Balance Between Life and Creation
ZHU Men-Zhen notes that, compared to her earlier work, the content of this series is closer to real life rather than fictional, imagined narratives. This shift stems from a recent transition in her life stage — graduating from art school, moving back home to work independently, and simultaneously entering the workforce. These changes in living environment and role have made her more acutely attentive to the psychological and physical fluctuations she has experienced during this period.
“This is a turning point in the story, and also the way I waver between life and creation,” the artist says. By honestly documenting these moments of “wavering,” the exhibition invites viewers to step into her visual diary, experiencing the quietly charged dialogue between reality and creation, the private and the public, certainty and uncertainty.
ZHU Men-Zhen
ZHU Men-Zhen graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Tunghai University, where she also completed her master’s degree. She currently lives and works in Taoyuan. ZHU specializes in small-scale oil paintings with delicate textures, constructing visual worlds rich with fairy-tale and mythological metaphors. She often transforms expressive painterly language—layered pigments, the bleeding and dripping of oil, and the blank spaces left by pencil strokes—into key elements for shaping atmosphere. Beneath seemingly sweet and lively imagery lies a quiet reflection on unease, violence, and states of stability. Her recent works more directly reveal traces of judgment and revision, honestly recording the inner fluctuations that accompany life’s transitions, and seeking a distinctive rhythm of drift between lived reality and narrative in her creative practice.
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