A forum on the experiences of Taiwan artists in Paris was staged by the National Museum of History Oct. 19 in Taipei City to promote the special exhibition “The Elsewhere of the Other: Sanyu and the Echoes of Expatriate Artists in Paris.”
According to the Ministry of Culture, which oversees the museum, the personal stories of six local artists were shared at the event. Through photos and historic documents, speakers told their narratives and detailed how their time in the world’s art capital helped shape their creative styles and influence the domestic art landscape.
Among the presenters, Hsieh Li-fa reflected on his 1964 voyage from Shanghai to Paris and subsequent tour of Europe. In addition to paintings, Hsieh is also known for his sculptures, relief prints and literary work introducing Western art theories to Taiwan, as well as his dedication to studying and promoting Taiwan’s fine arts.
Other prominent artists who spoke at the event were Li Wen-tsien, who studied in Paris during the 1960s, and Wang Che-hsiung, who studied in the French capital in the 1970s and ’80s.
Family members of Liu Chi-hsiang and Yang San-lang also talked about the late artists’ lives. The two were renowned painters during Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945) and among the first four artists from Taiwan to learn Western techniques in Paris.
The NMH said another forum will be staged Nov. 9 to focus on Sanyu (1900-1966), who was one of the earliest Chinese artists to study in Paris. Known for painting the nude form with calligraphy brushes, he was often referred to as the “Henri Matisse of the Orient.” (SFC-E)
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from Taiwan Today – Top News