Chang Ming Shen
The Quantum Code
of the Universe
Transforming the yin and yang, and the wisdom of East and West, into symbols of art.—
He transforms the interplay of yin and yang, the wisdom of the East and West, into artistic symbols—a landscape, a statue, a piece of literature, a historical icon—which become vessels of energy, infused with the rhythm and pulse of the universe.
Gazing at his work, you are enthralled by the interconnected nature of the world and the endless cycle that governs it.
Series
Inspired by Scripture Series
Scripture Series
As the light changes, the grains of sand that outline the Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and I Ching are revealed. It shifts with light and shadow, appearing then disappearing, representing the hidden wisdom of the East...
Quantum Portrait Series
Quantum Portrait
Einstein, Aubrey, Hoben, Caesar... These figures have crossed the waves of time, from ancient days to the present, becoming iconic symbols of human civilization. Through vivid imagery and sketches, they are transformed into carriers of energy, arriving like cosmic travelers in the here and now, radiating a power that reaches out towards you....
24 Season Series
24 Solar Terms Series
The continuous cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, along with the alternating yin and yang of the sun and moon, carries the ancient wisdom of the Farmer's Calendar.
The beauty of mountains and waters blends with Chang Ming Shen’s unique raindrop painting technique, gathering the rhythms of nature on the canvas. The 24 Season Series explores the wisdom of heaven and earth....
The Twelve Hexagrams Series
Quantum Portrait
The Twelve Hexagrams series is based on the traditional Chinese 24 solar terms, which divide the year into four groups—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each group corresponds to three months and six solar terms, integrating the hexagram imagery from the I Ching to convey the cyclical ebb and flow of yin and yang....
Multitudes of Dust Motes Series
24 Solar Terms Series
Life exists as a liminal state, much like a quantum phenomenon. These works vibrate between existence and emptiness, emerging through the complex interplay of granular sand textures, light, and the shifting perspective of the viewer. With bursts of cosmic brilliance or serene hues of blue, they embody a profound sense of uncertainty—one that is at once a physical reality and a spiritual contemplation—reminding us that all things are composed of invisible particles, circulating infinitely throughout the cosmos.
The Twelve Hexagrams Series
Quantum Portrait
The Twelve Hexagrams series is based on the traditional Chinese 24 solar terms, which divide the year into four groups—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each group corresponds to three months and six solar terms, integrating the hexagram imagery from the I Ching to convey the cyclical ebb and flow of yin and yang....
Chang Ming Shen
As a pioneer of “quantum era art”, Chang Ming Shen combines art with Buddhism and quantum science to explore the mysteries of existence.
Before 60, Chang Ming Shen revealed through his sketchbook practice—“Three-in-One”—an exploration of art, Buddhism, and science. Suffering from grief, he deepened his enlightenment about Buddhism and the essence of life.
After turning 60, his creations broke free from purely Eastern or Western styles. He focused on transforming his experiences of the universe and all living things into human figures, scriptures, atmospheres, and landscapes, crystallizing them into quantum codes that convey a powerful, eternal, vibrant energy.
On the surface, the artworks seem like a diverse collection of different elements, but fundamentally, they all come from the same source. Whether it is microorganisms, the ephemeral interplay of yin and yang between mountains and lakes, the ancient Eastern philosophical sketches, or the sparks of interest from modern quantum physics, every element in his artworks interacts to reveal a consistent thread of cosmic mystery and eternity.
Biennale di Venezia
Biennale di Venezia
In the Media
In Eastern philosophy, a grain of sand is considered an entire world. Each world contains countless elements, which in turn combine to form an even larger universe. A grain of sand, seen as the tiniest visible particle, is used as a metaphor for an atom, symbolizing the infinite worlds born from it.
── Written by Wang Yanxing, curator
Upcoming
Endless Motes of Dust
Shen Chang-Ming’s 70th Birthday Charity Exhibition
2026.08.22 – 09.02
10:00 – 17:00
Dadong Arts Center, 3F (Rooms 303, 315, 316)
At seventy, life is a liminal state—a perpetual cycle of reflection and rebirth. Inspired by the Diamond Sutra and the indeterminate nature of the quantum world, this exhibition, 'Endless Motes of Dust,' explores the intersection of matter and consciousness. Through the medium of sand, sutras are intaglio-carved into the canvas, revealing themselves only through the shifting interplay of light and perspective. This elusive existence captures a 'quantum state' between presence and emptiness, inviting viewers to contemplate the infinite cycle of all things, where uncertainty becomes a profound reflection of the soul.
Chang Ming Shen
As a pioneer of “quantum era art”, Chang Ming Shen combines art with Buddhism and quantum science to explore the mysteries of existence.
Before 60, Chang Ming Shen revealed through his sketchbook practice—“Three-in-One”—an exploration of art, Buddhism, and science. Suffering from grief, he deepened his enlightenment about Buddhism and the essence of life.
After turning 60, his creations broke free from purely Eastern or Western styles. He focused on transforming his experiences of the universe and all living things into human figures, scriptures, atmospheres, and landscapes, crystallizing them into quantum codes that convey a powerful, eternal, vibrant energy.
On the surface, the artworks seem like a diverse collection of different elements, but fundamentally, they all come from the same source. Whether it is microorganisms, the ephemeral interplay of yin and yang between mountains and lakes, the ancient Eastern philosophical sketches, or the sparks of interest from modern quantum physics, every element in his artworks interacts to reveal a consistent thread of cosmic mystery and eternity.
A pioneer of “quantum era art”