Exhibition tracks development of sculpting in Taiwan

2015/09/30

A special exhibition commemorating the 120th anniversary of a renowned Taiwan sculptor’s birth and recognizing the contributions of leading local talents to the art form kicked off Sept. 18 in Taipei City.

Staged at Taipei Zhongshan Hall, “Tribute to the Masters” features 116 pieces created by the late Huang Tu-shui and 10 other accomplished artists, representing their long-term efforts in shaping a rich sculpting scene in Taiwan.

Ni Chung-hwa, commissioner of exhibition organizer Taipei City Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs, said Huang is widely considered one of the first contemporary pioneers incorporating local aesthetics into his works. “He remains a major force in sculpting and exerts enormous influence over the artists of today.”

Born in 1895 in Taipei City’s Wanhua District, Huang was the first Taiwan artist to have his works selected for display at the Japan Imperial Art Exhibition and University of Tokyo. He died aged 36 in Japan, leaving behind a small but highly prized body of work.

One of Huang’s highlight pieces at the event is “Water Buffaloes,” a 1930 relief portraying three boys and their buffaloes resting near plantain trees. It conveys a sense of tranquility while illustrating the relationship between man and beast.

The sculpture was designated a national treasure in 2009 by the Ministry of Culture, and is the first 20th-century production on the list.

Exhibition curator Hsiao Chong-ray, a professor of history at Tainan City-based National Cheng Kung University, said Huang’s natural and innocent style garnered him widespread acclaim. “The rural scenery of Taiwan frequently represented in his works helped write a new chapter for the local art movement.”

Equally impressive are the works of Chen Hsia-yu, Chen Ting-shih, Chen Yin-jye, Chiu Yunn, Chueh Ming-te, Ho Ming-chi, Lee Tsai-chien, Pu Tien-sheng, Wang Shui-ho and Yang Yu-yu. All of the talents’ pieces reflect a smorgasbord of cultural and creative influences.

The indoor segment of the exhibition wraps up Nov. 22, with the outdoor one concluding Jan. 31, 2016.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237116&ctNode=2194&mp=9)