Taiwanese Art Treasures... | Exhibitions

Taiwanese Art Treasures Preserved Overseas: The Homecoming Exhibition of the Sun Ten Collection

National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts

Taichung | Taiwan

20 Mar, 2021 - 27 Jun, 2021

This is a wonderful story about a family dedicated to art collection. Holding fast to the conviction that 鈥渕edicine heals the body; culture nurtures the soul,鈥� entrepreneur Dr. Hsu Hong-Yen independently devoted a lifetime to supporting artists鈥� creative practice and preserved a large quantity of artworks at a time when state-run modern art museums were still wanting in Taiwan. After his demise, his wife continued his legacy by founding the Sun Ten Museum where these artists鈥� works were exhibited and promoted. To honor Dr. Hsu鈥檚 final wish, his family eventually donated his entire collection to Taiwan at the time when Taiwan鈥檚 prospects are improving. Originally belonging to this island, these pieces of work (more than 600 in total) will be integral to the reconstruction of Taiwanese art history.

I. Luxuriance鈥擯aragons of Centenarians: On view in this section includes a total of 49 centenarian artists from Ishikawa Kinichiro (1871-1945) to those born before 1920. They respectively belonged to two subgroups: those who lived in Taiwan under Japanese colonial rule, and those who came of age in Mainland China and migrated to Taiwan after 1949. Sharing Dr. Hsu鈥檚 patronage and support, they constituted two powerful driving forces behind the construction of Taiwanese history and culture.

II. Diversity鈥擜bundance, Contemplation and Radiance: This section highlights a total of 43 artists born between 1921 and 1935. They lived in a period of radical change after the rise of national self-determination movements in the 1920s, in which cultures and arts were exuberant and diverse. These artists also experienced the political imbroglio from 1945 to 1949 during their prime time.

III. Brilliance鈥擳he Epoch-Crossing Generation: The 43 artists presented in this section were born in time of war between 1936 and 1944. They were born in a war-torn era, and came of age in a fast-changing world rife with conflicts. Many of them were even deprived of their right to education. All these hardships notwithstanding, they managed to lead a brilliant life by virtue of their own efforts.

IV. Emergence鈥擭ew Ethos of the Contemporaneity: On view in this section features a total of 60 artists born between 1945 and 1989, among whom some artists鈥� life stories remain unknown. On the whole, these artists belong to the post-war generation who experienced the times of crises, challenges and hardships as well as the Taiwan Economic Miracle. They not only witnessed Taiwan鈥檚 social, economic and political development, but also created a source of pride for contemporary civilization via their pursuit of freedom and democracy. Some of them clung to Taiwan, while others pursued advanced study abroad. Whichever way they chose, their life experiences are closely bound up with Taiwan. Ethnic group, gender, medium, and form no longer shackle their creative practice, but become essential interfaces for them to grasp the world and exchange ideas.