Lew Yung-Chien RCA (1938) is a Chinese-born Canadian photographer, artist, and author. Known for his painterly nature photographs, Lew is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA)."2015 New Academicians - Yung-Chien Lew." ''135th President's Dinner, Royal Academy of the Arts.'' 2015. 27. Print. A published author, he wrote and photo-illustrated ''L’esprit du taï-chi'' and received the Arts Society of China 2011 Award (Taiwan) for his illustrated book ''60 Chinese Cookies''. He has lectured and exhibited in Quebec, California, and China.

Life and career

Lew Yung-Chien (Yung-Chien Lew) was born in Shanghai, China, in 1938. As a youth, Lew studied traditional Chinese calligraphy and dry brush painting, before attending the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the National Taiwan Normal University. While in Taipei he also studied Tai Chi under master Cheng Man-ch'ing and incorporated the discipline into his work and life. He graduated from university in 1961 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree,"Teacher Biographies - Yung-Chien Lew." ''Visual Arts Centre''
Web.
and, from 1963 to 1967, studied graphic design at the École supérieure des arts modernes in Paris. He then moved to Montreal where he worked as a graphic designer under Claude LeSauteur at Cabana Séguin Inc.Blanchette, Josée. "Le chef et le philosophe." ''Le Devoir''. 27 Nov 2009. Print
Web.
/ref> In 1975 Lew co-founded the studio Communication et Design Hablutzel & Yung Inc. with Peter Hablutzel,Houde, Louise-Marie. "Hablutzel & Yung: Rigoureux, discrets et... tres corporatifs." ''G: le magazine de la communication graphic.'' Montreal. Feb/Mar 1989. 22. Print. and was the firm's president and sole proprietor by 1979. Known for creating logo designs for Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE), Noverco, and SNC-Lavalin, he was interviewed for the design magazine ''G'' in 1989. Throughout his corporate career, Lew painted as well as practised calligraphy and pottery. In 1995 Lew began to focus on photography, intercultural communication, and Tai Chi. A frequent traveler to Taiwan and China as well as California, Lew photographed landscapes and abstract patterns within nature. A practitioner of Tai Chi Cheng, he continued to study the discipline in Beijing. A cross-cultural adviser to corporations and governments, Lew also guest lectured at leadership workshops at McGill University's School of Management, where he introduced Tai Chi as a means to improve self-knowledge, design, and problem-solving skills.Adler, Nancy J. "Guest: Mr Lew Yung-Chien, CEO, artist, and Tai Chi gold medalist." ''The Art of Leadership: Course Outline McGill University''. 2004. 27. Print
Web.
/ref> He also instructed Tai Chi at McGill's Institute for the Public Life of Arts and Ideas,"The Enchanted Island at the 2013 ILA Conference - Lew Yung-Chien." ''McGill University''
Web.
/ref> and at the university's Faculty of Medecine. Lew also combined photography with Tai Chi philosophy and practice in the book ''L’esprit du taï-chi'', published in 2009. He also taught the course ''Tai Chi and the Brush'' at the Visual Art Centre in Westmount (Montreal). In 2011 Lew's book of drawings, calligraphy, and philosophical sayings ''60 Chinese Cookies'' was published in Montreal. Awarded the Arts Society of China 2011 Award (Taiwan), the book was published in New York as ''60 Fortune Cookies'' in 2014. In recognition of his work, Lew was selected artist-in-residence at the

Banff Centre of the Arts Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, formerly known as The Banff Centre (and previously The Banff Centre for Continuing Education), located in Banff, Alberta, was established in 1933 as the Banff School of Drama. It was granted full autonomy a ...

and exhibited there in 2001. A solo exhibition of his photographs and paintings was also held at the City of Westmount's Gallery at Victoria Hall in 2006. Since then he has exhibited at Silicon Valley Asian Art Center (Santa Clara CA), and at Qinzheart Gallery in Hangzhou China. In recent years Lew developed a photographic theory called "Swiftism" advocating spontaneity with the use of a camera like a brush. Recognized for his photography, Lew was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA), and participated in the association's new-members' exhibition at gallery Beaux-arts des Amériques (Montreal) in 2015.

Books

L’esprit du taï-chi In 2009 Lew's book on photography and Tai Chi ''L’esprit du taï-chi: sentir que les poissons sont contents'' was published."Lew Yung-Chien." ''Les Éditions de l'Homme.'
Web.
/ref> Written in collaboration with journalist Michel P. Dufour, the book was described in the Bibliothèques de Montréal's recommendation list as: "the text is accompanied by photography, calligraphy, and illustrations which inspires calm, contemplation and wonder... to enhance health and harmony between body and spirit." The book was reviewed in the literary magazine ''Nuit Blanche'' as "a superb introduction to Tai Chi". 60 Chinese Cookies ''60 Biscuits Chinois / 60 Chinese Cookies'' is described as "60 simple observations or insights, each illustrated with one of his drawings... with the author’s thoughts expressed in English, French and through Chinese calligraphy." Reviewed in The Gazette (Montreal), Monique Polak wrote: "Lew reminds us of things we already knew, but need to remember ("A careless word is like a careless match") and asks questions ("What is most precious to you?") that will linger in our minds long after we’ve put his book away."Polak, Monique. "Lew Yung-Chien brings new life to fortune cookies in his book, 60 Chinese Cookies." ''The Gazette (Montreal)'' 24 Nov 2011

/ref> Glimmerings of Eternity Lew's book of photographs taken throughout the world, ''Éclats d’éternité / Glimmerings of Eternity'', was published in 2017. Accompanied by 50 inspirational thoughts presented in English, French, and Chinese, the book is described as both a humorous and philosophic exploration of life's meaning. Published in 2017, ''Nuit Blanche'' reviewer Jean-Paul Beaumier, wrote that at times Lew's photographs "translate what is concealed from view or invite viewers to lose themselves within their beauty."Beaumier, Jean-Paul. "Lew Yung-Chien : Éclats d’éternité / Glimmerings of Eternity." ''Nuit Blanche.'' 2017
Web.
/ref>

References

External links

*Photo Galler
Web.
*"Trees of Life." Documentary on Lew Yung-Chien by Esther Viragh. ''Radio Canada International.'' 2007. ision.rcinet.ca/video/57O16OGY3OAW/Trees-of-Life/2 Video.*"L'esprit du tai-chi." Interview of Lew Yung-Chien et Jean-Pierre Charbonneau by Louis Lemieux. ''Radio Canada.'' 11 Oct 2009
Video.
*Blanchette, Josée. "Le chef et le philosophe." ''Le Devoir''. 27 Nov 2009. Print
Web.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lew, Yung-Chien 1938 births Living people Canadian photographers Members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts