Paul Chiang has dedicated his life to creating art that constructs a deeply personal and spiritual world, which he calls the "Ultimate Realm." This realm represents his inner aspirations and sense of belonging while also affirming his belief in art’s power to purify the world and the soul.
Born in Taichung in 1942, Chiang graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University. As a student, he began exploring abstract expressionism, and in 1965, he was selected to participate in the São Paulo Biennial. He later spent three decades living and working in Paris and New York.
Chiang’s early works, rendered primarily in shades of gray and black, emphasized depth and texture. These pieces reflected both the hardships he endured and his relentless pursuit of artistic perfection—a period now referred to as his “window-sealing series.”
After returning to Taiwan in 1998, Chiang completed several important series, including Hundred Year Temple and Silver Lake. In 2008, he relocated to Taitung, where the radiant coastal light and natural surroundings inspired a profound transformation in his artistic vision. This shift sparked a renewed engagement with color, leading to vibrant series such as Pisilian, On Wings of Song, and Jinzun.
Classical music has long been a significant influence in Chiang’s life and work. A student of the cello, he draws deep inspiration from composers such as Mahler, Schoenberg, Bach, and Debussy.
In addition to painting, Chiang has consistently pushed the boundaries of his practice by creating a sense of infinite extension in his works. This exploration eventually led him to three-dimensional forms. In 2007, at his solo exhibition A Journey into Dimension and Space, presented by the Taishin Bank Foundation, he debuted a series of abstract steel sculptures.