Chen Uen (千年一問), a documentary that focuses on Taiwanese graphic novelist Chen Uen (鄭問), was screened at the Chicago Cultural Center, the US on Sep. 7.
As part of the Summer Screenings Program, a free weekly film series that casts a spotlight on different country's national cinemas, the screening is presented by Cinema/Chicago, together with Taipei Cultural Center in New York, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Directed by Wang Wan-jo (王婉柔), the film depicts Chen's life story by representing his works and interviewing over 50 of the most prestigious art talents, such as Tetsuya Chiba (千葉徹彌), Ryoichi Ikegami (池上遼一), Ma Wing-shing (馬榮成), and Andrew Lau (劉偉強). The director fully captures the essence of the era during each stage of Chen’s life through music, framing, and recreated scenes.
An in-person post-screening discussion was held after the screening, attended by Professor of Columbia College Chicago Wenhwa Ts'ao (曹文華) and Director of the Education Division of TECO in Chicago John Lin (林逸).
Born in 1958, Chen Uen was the pen name of Cheng Chin-wen (鄭進文), who died of a heart attack in 2017. He was also the most celebrated artist in the field of comic art in Asia. His work is presented with a unique style of aesthetic that blends art forms of Chinese ink painting and western painting skills. His agility and skillfulness in using various materials have made him unparalleled, which is regarded as "Chen Uen aesthetic."