In 2007, Chien-ying Wu undertook a program of advanced study in France, graduating from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. However, despite his many years as a student, Wu has not chosen to follow the path of academic art, interested more in being at one with nature than becoming an artist. His works are always based on life, approachable, and dedicated to giving back to society. As such, openness is an integral element in his works, and Wu frequently invites the participation of others.

For the Taipei Biennial, Chien-Ying Wu takes what he learned studying overseas and frames a triangular (multi-point) relationship. The origins of this project can be traced back to the artist’s encounter with the Chesneau family in Chatou, France. For Wu, the focal point is the planning of a joint art project. This piece, for the Taipei Biennial, allows the participants to establish a shared objective, work together and exchange ideas, despite the differences in their respective lives. To some extent, a biennial work also showcases this commonality in life, the only difference being that the artist is working with someone else. This project involves displaying about 200 paintings by Léopold Chesneau from the age of two-and-a-half to his present age of 12. The observations of Léopold’s mother (Fan Chiung-hsi) who has lovingly kept all his works over the last decade will also be published as part of an album. Finally, Wu has filmed a documentary about Léopold including interviews with family, friends, neighbors and his elementary school art teacher. In essence, this “art” project revolves around the paintings of Léopold.

Wu continues to participate in many different group exhibitions and creative projects in Taipei and Paris. He won the second prize at Danse Élargie at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris (2012) and received Taipei Arts Awards (Honorable Mention) in 2009 and 2013.