The National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Kaohsiung Bureau of Cultural Affairs, is hosting the “Art for All – Bringing Aesthetics Into Your City” collection exchange exhibition. The exhibition is held at the Chih-Gao Gallery of the Kaohsiung Cultural Center from September 13 to October 7. The opening ceremony took place this morning (13th). Guests in attendance included:
Director Liao Hsiao-Ling of the Kaohsiung Cultural Center; Acting Deputy Director and Research Fellow Chiu Wen-Chih of the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall; exhibition curator Professor Ku Yao-Hua of the Chinese Culture University, Department of Fine Arts; Associate Professor Wu Hung-Chun of the Tainan University of Technology, Department of Fine Arts; Honorary Director Li Hsueh-Fu of the Taiwan Southern Art Association; Director Cheng Sheng-Yang of the Taiwan Southern Art Association; Chairperson Chou Hui-Ling of the Kaohsiung Calligraphy and Painting Association; Artistic Director Chen Wen-Long of Champs-Élysées Gallery; Chairman Lin Nan-Hong of the Kaohsiung Art Alliance Painting Society; former Chairman Kuan Chen-Hui of the Kaohsiung Modern Painting Association; and artist Su Lien-Chen.
Director Liao Hsiao-Ling of the Kaohsiung Cultural Center remarked that the collaboration between the Memorial Hall and the Cultural Center has led to the joint presentation of the “Art for All – Bringing Aesthetics Into Your City” traveling exhibition from September 13 to October 7, with the Kaohsiung stop officially unveiled today. Since its founding in 1972, the Memorial Hall has devoted itself to the promotion of culture, art preservation, and academic research, with remarkable achievements. Since its establishment in 1981, the Cultural Center has likewise been committed to cultivating artistic performances and exhibitions. This traveling exhibition not only allows the artworks to “step out of storage” but also embraces the core concept that “art is life,” seeking to integrate aesthetics into the city and everyday experience. All sectors are warmly invited to experience how art enriches daily living at the Cultural Center.
Acting Deputy Director and Research Fellow Chiu Wen-Chih of the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall noted that following the stop in Changhua, the exhibition has now moved south with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Kaohsiung Bureau of Cultural Affairs, showcasing long-held collections rarely made public and connecting them with local audiences. The exhibits include award-winning works from the National Youth Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition and the Sun Yat-sen Youth Art Awards. Some artists’ creative journeys span nearly four decades, presenting diverse styles from their student years to mature stages, inspiring younger artists in their own growth. The exhibition also emphasizes the link between collections and local culture, promoting the integration of art into everyday life. Additionally, on September 20, a special exchange event entitled “Dialogue Between Modern and Traditional Calligraphy and Painting” will be held, aiming to foster cultural interaction and broaden perspectives in Taiwanese art.
Associate Professor Wu Hung-Chun of the Tainan University of Technology, Department of Fine Arts, reflected that he once participated in and received recognition from both the National Youth Calligraphy and Painting Competition and the Sun Yat-sen Youth Art Awards organized by the Memorial Hall, gaining sustained encouragement and support. The Memorial Hall has long played an active role in promoting exhibitions, collections, and cultural competitions, laying important foundations for the development of Taiwanese art and the field’s historiography.
Curator and Professor Ku Yao-Hua of the Chinese Culture University, Department of Fine Arts, stated that this traveling collection exhibition in Kaohsiung incorporates local artistic characteristics, featuring valuable works by distinguished senior artists as well as emerging talents. Visitors can appreciate both early award-winning pieces and their mature counterparts, while also witnessing artists’ journeys from youth to artistic maturity.
This year, with the support of the “Public Museum Collaboration Project for Redeveloping Taiwan’s Cultural Content” commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, the Memorial Hall is hosting “Art for All – Bringing Aesthetics Into Your City: 2025 National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Collection Exchange Exhibition” in both Changhua and Kaohsiung. The exhibition focuses on the “National Youth (Student) Calligraphy and Painting Competition,” which the Memorial Hall has held for 38 editions. All participating artists are first-, second-, or third-place winners from each division, and the selection particularly considered the geographical ties between the artists and the host cities. The exhibition includes both the award-winning works of earlier years and new pieces acquired through subsequent invitational or juried exhibitions and competitions. The displayed works primarily feature ink painting and calligraphy, with a total of 36 collection items, including works by well-known southern Taiwanese artists such as Chang Shen-Hsi, Li Wen-Chen (Li Yu-Chou), Huang Tsai-Sung, Hsiao Chin-Hsing, Lin Kuo-Shan, and Hsueh Chih-Yang.
Chang Shen-Hsi, a native of Ziguan in Kaohsiung, once served as Chairman of the Tainan City Chinese Painting Research Association and the Southern Art Association, and taught at Nanhua University and Chang Jung Christian University, making significant contributions to ink painting education in southern Taiwan. This exhibition features two of his works from different periods. One of them, “Clouds and Mountains Reflecting the Sunset,” uses a layered composition and skillful brushwork to create a sense of spatial depth and misty atmosphere in the landscape. Through concrete forms of rocks and ethereal clouds, the piece reveals a deep understanding of nature and poetic expression. With this work, Chang Shen-Hsi won first place in the society group of the 3rd National Youth (Student) Calligraphy and Painting Competition organized by the Memorial Hall in 1975.
Huang Tsai-Sung, originally from Xigang in Tainan, has served as a judge for numerous competitions, including the National Art Exhibition, Kaohsiung Art Exhibition, and Nanying Art Exhibition, and has been involved in the curation and appraisal efforts of institutions such as the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts and the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. His ink works have earned him a permanent exemption from preliminary reviews in the Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition and accolades such as the 28th Chungshan Literary and Art Creation Award. This exhibition includes four of his works from different stages. Among them, “Spring Evening at Yangmingshan,” created in 2006 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the inauguration of Chungshan Building, showcases the gradation of ink tones and spatial layering. The composition depicts towering pine trees in rich ink, and meticulously conveys the architectural beauty of Chungshan Building, using minute details to express a grand artistic context and distinctive visual impact.
On September 20, an arts symposium titled “Oriental On-Site: Contemporary Context and Exhibition Logic of Calligraphy and Painting” will be held at the Chih-Gao Gallery of the Kaohsiung Cultural Center. Moderated by Professor Wu Hung-Chun of the Tainan University of Technology, the panel will feature Professor Wang Yuan-Tung of the Chang Jung Christian University Department of Calligraphy and Painting, and Professor Tsai Wen-Ting of the National Kaohsiung Normal University Department of Fine Arts. Discussions will focus on the transformation of ink art in contemporary settings, international exchange, formal innovation, and local discourse. For further information, please visit the Kaohsiung Bureau of Cultural Affairs website (khcc.kcg.gov.tw) and the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall website (www.yatsen.gov.tw).
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