Dina Mitrani Gallery is proud to present Shen Chao-Liang: Stage, curated by Inez Suen, in collaboration with Aki Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan. This exhibition includes images from the artist’s recent series Stage, which explores stage trucks, the mobile “carriers” used by performing groups in Taiwan’s middle class. The work depicts the artist’s unique interpretation of contemporary culture while exhibiting his keen ability to document social reality. These photographs are visually compelling, full of the surreal nature these stages evoke, as they chronicle this cultural phenomenon within Taiwan’s landscape.

Shen Chao-Liang made over 100 photographs between 2006 and 2011. In his introduction to his book, Stage, the artist explains his fascination with these stage trucks, their history, how they are made, and the life that surrounds the performers and business owners. The artist followed many stage trucks to remote areas on the island, stopping on side roads, industrial zones, at seaports, rice paddy fields and in front of Temples. Since the 1970’s, performance groups, singing and dancing at weddings, funerals and other festivities have been part of Taiwanese culture. These highly designed, unfolding stage trucks provide the settings for the musical shows, flaunting a magical array of lights, colors and symbols that represent the values and spirit of Taiwanese culture.

Shen Chao-Liang was born in Taiwan and has been dedicated to photography since 1993. He won the Golden Tripod Award of Best Photography (magazine category) of R.O.C. (Taiwan) in 2000, 2002 and 2012, the Asia Award in Sagamihara, Japan (2004), the Dong-Gang Photography Award, Korea (2006), the Artists Wanted: Photography Category Award, NY, USA (2011), and the IPA (International Photography Award) (PRO), Book of Documentary Category 1st Place, LA, USA (2012).

In addition to his recent solo exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Shen's work has been exhibited in the United States, Canada, France, Spain, Peru, Guatemala, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and PRC China. He is also a photography critic, and teaches at Tamkang University and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.

Inez Suen is an Art Consultant and Curator. Born in Taipei and raised in Chicago, Inez, has an eye for the obvious, the outrageous, and the overlooked when it comes to discovering and promoting fine art. She has over 10 years of experience working in the New York artistic community before establishing her own business dealing in international art from Asia to Europe.

Dina Mitrani Gallery opened in November 2008 and specializes in international contemporary photography. The gallery represents emerging and mid-career artists, offers artists talks and lectures on photography as well as photo-based books and objects. The gallery is committed to promoting its artists, as well as collaborating with independent curators to produce unique exhibitions to enhance the gallery’s program.