The UPrep community knows Chinese teacher Juei-Chuan Hung for his flashy personality. Every morning, he shows up to school in a bold, shiny, neon-green Jeep, always dressed in fashionable jackets and stylish pants that make him stand out. He led a very successful rapping career in Taiwan, becoming a celebrity in his hometown of Taichung. Hung boasts an extensive shoe collection that his students often take great notice of. He owns enough pairs of sneakers to wear a different one to school every day. But one thing flies under the radar: his art skills.
“For as long as I can remember, I have been drawing, doodling, and causing trouble drawing where I shouldn’t be,” Hung said.
Since the start of the school year, Hung has dedicated many mornings and evenings to constructing elaborate drawings on the large whiteboard in the lower commons. It reminds him of his youth, as Hung spent much of his teenage years in Taiwan graffitiing his neighborhood.
“As a teen, you’re trying to find your place, your own circle, and a sense of community,” Hung said. “As an artist, I always want to leave a little bit of a clue of what I do to the world. Graffiti is something I have always loved to do.”
Hung has been teaching at UPrep for 14 years, and only recently began to share his love for drawing with the school. He signs every single one of his drawings, and is seen working on them during lunch and community time.
“He just loves art,” Hung’s daughter, ninth-grader Angelina Hung said. “He wants to do this desperately.”
Angelina often helps Hung generate ideas, providing a lens into current trends.
“KPop Demon Hunters [an animated Netflix TV show that has become a hit among young people] was pretty popular in our school, and I thought that that would be something interesting to draw,” Angelina said.
Angelina recognizes the impact her father’s drawings have had on the school.
“It’s really just for everyone,” Angelina said. “He really wants this community to connect,”
Hung picks the commons to showcase his art because it reminds him of drawing graffiti.
“It’s a community space. Everybody is coming in and out all the time,” Hung said. “Leaving a piece of art that I can claim as my own creation is very similar to what I did in the past.”
The Chinese department appreciates Hung’s art. Above his work Hung often writes a few Chinese words (with English translations) that relate to the drawing below, aiming to teach his students and the wider community Mandarin vocabulary. Chinese teacher Jing Jing Xie thinks the drawings will connect the department to students and will get them interested in studying foreign languages.
“It was a really great idea,” Xie said. “It fits what the culture is right now and a young audience. I think it will bring more attention to the department. When he does this, people see that it’s not just about teaching, but also connecting.”
Hung appreciates the commons, as the area gives him an opportunity to have total creative autonomy and connect with his audience, drawing in a way that he hasn’t done since he was a kid.
“My second oldest brother was a very good mentor of mine,” Hung said. “He taught me to always leave a signature with any art that I create. That has always been a philosophy of mine and something I insist on doing.”
On Oct. 8, Hung chose to draw the late science department pet, Noodles the snake. Along with the drawing, he prompted students to leave a kind message in memory of the iconic reptile.
The drawing featured Noodles as the main attraction. The snake emerged from a Cup o’ Noodles, and was drawn right below Brent Slattengren, her former owner (he passed away in July 2023 after working at UPrep for 14 years). The rats, Einstein and Newton, peeked out from behind the cup.
“It meant so much to me to see everything that everyone wrote,” Hung said.
While creating his piece, Hung took into account Slatts’ teaching style.
“He was always very welcoming and created a sense of belonging,” Hung said. “When I saw all of the kind words and comments, it helped me solidate and think about the impact that they had.”
Often, Hung’s art serves as a means of bringing the community together.
“He really cares about the community and cares about the students and what they care about,” Xie said.
Hung doesn’t draw for fame.
“When I do this, I’m never trying to get compliments,” Hung said. “I love it, but it’s not my major focus. It’s all about connecting with more people in the community.”
