New Trend of Minimal Art---Paintings of Chang Chih-cheng

Furthermore, Zhang Zhicheng utilizes the thickness of paint to express the sub-title of passing of time. Other than being an outlet of one’s emotions, we can state further that, traces of time is also the direct response as seen through one’s face. Zhang Zhicheng continuously paints layers of colors onto canvas, using these layering effects to emphasize the secret of time left on each and every face.

Color, shape and composition of all works are restored to the original tone, the minimum and basic geometric shape, most pure primitive colors, displaying only the basic appearance. Chang Chih-cheng’s works “Portrait”, “Wales Warrior”, “Francis Bacon”, “Max NeuMann” and etc. are all the representatives of monochromatic painting. These works are all in one color or in colors of one color system, and image characteristics are neglected in control and have the characteristics of monochromatic painting.

In order to accurately express the feelings of loneliness, monochrome colors are usually used in the works and emotion factors of visual objects are made the most basic expression concept while image approach (vision, hearing) to express material abundance are made elements of the concept.

In expression process of monochrome, artists attach thick material paint like walls to lifelike space to form an effect similar to murals. In this carefully planed and outlined painting process, concept of time was emphatically stressed. Memory and traces of time are stacked as archaeological layers in this process; The process of reading is just like appreciation of murals or the ancient art of paintings to explore the idea veiled by the artists and some pure things described by them.

In contemporary arts, graphic painting is a difficult road while the meanings cannot be expressed with materials. Arts are constructed with forms, but not only forms. The connotation of the spirit is the peak of arts and lofty position of painting in arts is achieved by this. After years of color research and practice exploration, Chang Chih-cheng’s works belong to minimal art but have their own features. Spiritual connotation is expressed in way of physical property and a new contemporary form of language is developed. These are all hard-won achievements.