SHOWCASE

/ ARTIST / 2026

ARTIST: OLIVER CHEN
COUNTRY: Taiwan
CONTACT: https://oli-illustration.webnode.tw
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https://www.instagram.com/oliver_chen_16/
https://www.threads.com/@oliver_chen_16?hl=zh-tw
In 2023, after experiencing midlife redundancy, I relocated to Taitung and began a new journey in artistic illustration. Starting from zero, I returned to the childhood passion for creation that I had once set aside. Drawing inspiration from everyday life and the people and places I encounter during my travels, I create works that resonate with human emotions and daily experiences. I enjoy producing art that feels close to the heart and reflects life itself, while also re-examining different subjects through an artistic perspective.

In my illustration practice, I enjoy exploring various possibilities beyond the artwork itself, including developing interactive activities for exhibitions, creating merchandise, and embodying a strong sense of local identity in my projects.
My use of color ranges from simplicity to vivid vibrancy, both of which are signature elements of my style. In monochrome works, I emphasize linework and detailed expression. In colorful pieces, I use bright and saturated tones as the foundation, telling complex stories through simple visual compositions.

HAPPINESS BOX

I painted this happiniess box is the moment when I felt depressed. I was under lots of pressures of life status; friendship, career and family expectations. I painted this painting with a simply one thoughts of being happy.

when I was a child, a box of cook makes me happy and I started to ask myself why a box of a cook cannot make me happy anymore. In that condition, I pictured if there is a box called “happiness” in the supermarket so I can purchase happiness whenever I needed it, that’ll be great.

falling in the space

During my illustration career, I sometimes feel ups and downs in life. Instead of being in depression, I told myself that I am just like an astronaut falling in the space never touch the bottom of life. I feel like floating and with relax mindset to enjoy the falling vibes. Whenever I feel unable to handle, my boyfriend will be flying toward me like a superman with powers to catch me. I pictured my space world with interesting planets and stars around me so I can still feel safe.

I painted the flowers on my outfit reflecting to the mindset of me is a blossom flowers also an iconic branding patterns of my illustration brands.

Lights of lighthouse

Lighthouse plays an important role in my life. When I got lost, I can still see the lights of the lighthouse guilding me toward the direction that I want to go. Illustration is the lights of my lighthouse, so the ideas of the Hope lighthouse hits in my brain.

To me, the lighthouse of hopes always gives me strength and power to move forward even during severe storms. I used vivid and playful features in the lighthouse to present my childhood dreams.

The lighthouse series is the theme for me to paint this year, there are 3 more lightshouse creation undertaking for now and will be finished by end of Aug.

LIGHT SPIRITS

Lighthouses shines and sparks a way to the lost one and guide them to come home safely. The lights fairies gathered around the top of the lights to welcome loved on to come for protection and shine with handmade beads flowers as the waves down the painting.

Light up the hopes

I created this lighthouse by air clay and using the acrylic to paint on it, there is a electric candles for people to replace when the power is out to represent lighting up the lights of yourself as the goad of life so you have more power to move on to your path.

abandonded artist

In 2025, I worked on a project of a wedding portrait case with 36 pcs in total, I spend days to complete piece by piece to reach the deadline of a wedding. The couple rejected every piece of the portrait after I finished them all, I requested them to pay for the working fee but they disappeared.

depression lighthouse

I pictured myself locking in a lighthouse and there are weapons, spines around the lighthouse as I sometimes lock myself up to protect myself when I'm in depression. however, my boyfriend sometimes turns into a hero (side of the painting) to rescue me from the hurtful army in the world.

TOO MUCH IN BRAIN

Sometimes, I squeeze too much in my brain and it exploded with many ideas and thoughts in once. Painting is a way for me to express my feelings and status of a brain. I use strong contract colors in this painting as background and the dog meaning the explosion happends when life is dark. I always do my best to change mindset to a colorful and playful to face the dark side.

I put flowers in my eyes representing the different things and feelings I see through my eyes when brain exploded.

indigenous of amis community in Taiwan

Culture is one of the most valuable spirit in Taiwan as my boyfriend who is an indigenous of Amis community in Taiwan, we support our culture by wearing the traditional outfit in the ceremony to express the identity. I painted it to introduce our culture to the people worldwide.

LIGHTHOUSE CONDO

This lighthouse condo is another artwork that I work on for this year’s theme. I created all the different form of the lighthouse out of my imagination. This lighthouse condo stands in the centre of the ocean where people only visiting here by speedboat or helicopter.

Lighthouse condo is a building that fullfill all your needs! Before you sign up for a residency, please make sure that you have a private speedboat or a hellicopter to arrive. But do't worry if you don't have them, we also provide a transporting service for you to choose, it's costly tho.

You will soon discover how your life can be different from the moment you step into the building. You are welcomed with a cafe house where you can dance around, or you can enjoy a cinema or a ktv with friends from level 2-7. You can also enjoy a sky restaurant / bar, deisnger brands shopping, casino or a sky swimming pool/yoga space if you want. if you don't want any of those, you can also choose to take the glassy lift directly to your resident.