NCL show celebrates Wang Nong’s artistic career

2015/10/07

A retrospective on Wang Nong commenced Oct. 5 at Taipei City-based National Central Library, revealing a rarely seen side of the late Taiwan artist and his profound body of work.

The exhibition comprises 317 calligraphies, ink wash paintings, personal letters and memorabilia spanning Wang’s career. All of the items were bequeathed to NCL following his death aged 87 in 2013.

NCL Director Tseng Shu-hsien said a star attraction at the event is Wang’s final painting “The Demon Killer’s Taiji Sword.” “The piece marks a return to innocence, representing the painter at his most guileless as well as culmination of a lifelong dedication to traditional Chinese arts.

“Wang is known for fleshing out the character of his painting subjects, be they camels, horses, water buffalo or his signature demon killer, aka Zhong Kui in Chinese mythology.”

According to Tseng, what makes Wang’s farewell creation so special are the simple brushstrokes bringing the sword-wielding hero to life on the paper. “They are akin to the fluid gestures of Peking Opera and represent an artistic statement of a lifetime,” she said.

Born 1926 in Shenyang, mainland China, Wang rose to fame after winning the cartoon category at the 1951 Taiwan Fine Art Exhibition. He went on to claim the Chungshan Literature and Art Award for traditional Chinese painting in 1978 and is credited with innovating the genre in Taiwan.

Wang’s combination of Eastern literati tradition and Western abstract art was praised by his mentor Xu Beihong—an influential icon in 20th century Chinese ink paintings—for faithfully reflecting his expansive tastes. An avid fan of Peking Opera, Wang left behind a collection deemed to embody the triumph of theater and subtleties of human nature.

As part of the exhibition which wraps up Dec. 13, Spain-based Taiwan painter Roberto Liang will deliver a keynote speech Oct. 29 shedding light on Wang’s achievements from the perspective of an artist.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237462&ctNode=2194&mp=9)