ZHONG CHENG

Born in Jinan, Shan Dong, Linus Zao graduated from the Fine Art Department of National Taiwan Normal University in 1955, he later completed his masters at Parsons School of Design in the United States. He worked for Tokyo TOEI Animation Studio and Disney Hollywood Studio from 1959 to 1964. When returning to Taipei in 1965, he founded the “Linus Art Studio”, as the pioneer of Taiwanese animation he was recognized as the “Father of Cartoon” and “Walter Disney of Taiwan”. His first animation was produced in 1968, titled “Uncle Stone's Letter”. He soon completed his second animation “Tale of a Turtle and Rabbit” in 1969. He taught at the University of Hawaii and worked as a freelance painter from 1971 to 2003. Linus Zao exhibited his art internationally in Japan, Korea, Canada, Australia, Brazil, China and Taiwan where he won numerous awards. In 2008, his works were displayed at the 17th “Linus Zao, Li Mongchin Art Biennale” exhibition held by Wailoa Art Center. In 2010, he led a group of American painters to exhibit for the “World Watercolor Exhibition” in Taiwan. Zao’s watercolor paintings have diverse themes from rain, snow, mountains to oceanviews, the artist easily captures the moment of nature through poetic, philosophical and romantic manner.