Shen Fung Lin

From an early age, Shen Fung Lin immersed himself in art. He began studying Western painting in a professional studio during elementary school, later joining a gifted art class in junior high, and ultimately entering the Department of Commercial Design at Taiwan University—his first-choice program. Alongside this training, he cultivated a love of literature, reading writers such as Haruki Murakami and Gao Xingjian, whose romantic, travel-like narratives influenced his artistic sensibilities. Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki also left a deep impression—his stories of wonder, warmth, and hope continue to echo in Shen’s own approach to creativity.

Shen draws equal inspiration from East and West, particularly Claude Monet and Zhang Daqian, artists whose personal styles and emotional honesty remain vivid even a century later. Their work affirmed his belief that art should be bright, sincere, and free of pretense.

His own creative process is both structured and intuitive. Shen collects inspiration in notes and organizes them into series, often working with a chocolate latte in hand and music playing through headphones. In recent years, he has embraced plein air painting, leaving the studio to create in natural environments. From his explorations, he developed the acclaimed ZEN Series, inspired by naturally formed stones in parks. This body of work—recognized with international awards and exhibitions—has become a touchstone for Shen, reminding him to create as himself rather than as “a replica of someone else’s shadow.” As he puts it, “there is no need for a second Picasso or Van Gogh.”

The ZEN Series embodies his vision: paintings that evoke emptiness and stillness, like the clearing of the mind in meditation. His aim is to help viewers find inner peace, harmony, and positivity through art.

In 2023, Shen established his own art studio, opening a space for professional teaching where he shares his vision, passion, and techniques with students. Looking forward, he hopes to collaborate with international brands, bringing his work into daily life through commercial partnerships so that paintings are not confined to gallery walls but become part of the world around us.

Through all his work runs a single belief: to convey light and positivity. Renoir’s words guide him—“La douleur passe, la beauté reste” (“Pain passes, beauty remains”). Shen encourages young artists to recognize themselves more than they criticize themselves, to persist despite doubt, and to trust in their potential.

“Art is a difficult path,” he writes, “but there is a lot of beauty in the journey. Embrace the world with love, express yourself freely with a brush, spread kindness, and plant seeds that may one day grow into great trees. And when you can, turn back to help the younger generation who are lost.”

For Shen Fung Lin, art is not only an act of creation—it is an offering of encouragement, warmth, and light.