Exhibition celebrates innovative pastel rubbing technique of late-blooming artist

An exhibition in Taoyuan is showing off the unusual technique of a late-blooming artist. After a career as a metalworker, Chen Wen-hsiung陳文雄 decided to get serious about his art in his 50s. He invented his own technique of pastel rubbing, which he teaches at schools and older adults’ centers across the city. Now his work, and art by his students, is on show at the Civil Affairs Office of Zhongli District in Taoyuan.

Peaceful garden idylls and majestic landscapes leap from the wall. These 38 paintings are on show now at the Civil Affairs Office of Zhongli District.

Member of public
We all thought this was a watercolor painting at first. But then the teacher explained that it’s actually a pastel rubbing painting.

The artist first uses a color pastel to put the foundation on the canvas, then uses his thumb to rub it into a painting, carefully manipulating the strength and direction of the rubbing.

Chen Wen-hsiung works deftly on a piece of paper, creating a painting with his fingers in just a few minutes. His first career was as a metalworker, and for many years, art was just a hobby. But he got serious about art in his 50s, and now, as a septuagenarian, his rubbing art is garnering great praise. He invented the technique himself.

Chen Wen-hsiung
Pastel rubbing artist
There was a time when I thought that was my lot in life; I didn’t want to paint or mess around with art anymore. I went back to my metal workshop. But then I got a phone call, asking if I could be at Quanqiao High School the next morning at 8 a.m. to teach painting.

Chen’s life has turned over a new chapter, with art at the center. The former craftsperson is now invited to give art lectures in schools, and regularly teaches painting to older adults at local community centers. This exhibition was organized in conjunction with students at Zhongli Elder College, to show off how simple media can be used with creativity.