The featured artists are: Tommy CHEN (1931-2017), HO Kan (1932-), Paul CHIANG (1942-), CHU Teh-I (1952-), HUANG Ming-chang (1952-), CHEN Wenji (1954-), XU Bing (1955-), Wei Jane CHIR (1955-), HUANG Hung-Teh (1956-2022), SU Wong-shen (1956-), CAI Guo-Qiang (1957-), Shida KUO (1959-), LIN Yan (1961-), LIEN Chien Hsing (1962-), WANG Yuping (1962-), ZHAN Wang (1962-), JENG Jundian (1963-), LIU Xiaodong (1963-), Szumin KUO (1964-), YU Hong (1966-), Suling WANG (1968-), Yi-Chen HUNG (1971-2011), Su-Mei TSE (1973-), and LU Liang (1975-).

Tommy CHEN and HO Kan were integral members of the avant-garde Tong Fang Painting Association in Taiwan during the late 1950s. After relocating to Taiwan post-war, they encountered numerous obstacles on their journey in modern art, yet they dedicated themselves to exploring abstract art infused with Eastern spirituality. Their legacy continued with abstract artists like Paul CHIANG, who imbues spiritual sublimity in his work. CHU Teh-I explores variations in form, color, and plane, while HUANG Hung-Teh focuses on removing form to paint in a spontaneous state. They have all enriched the spectrum of abstract art. CHEN Wenji’s paintings are characterized by minimalism and abstract forms, as he skillfully conjures a three-dimensional sense of reality within a two-dimensional space. While this may seem like an objective transformation, it is in fact a subjective perception and realistic illusion.

In the 1990s, contemporary Chinese art gained international prominence. Artists like XU Bing, CAI Guo-Qiang, and ZHAN Wang introduced bold conceptuality in their work, significantly influencing the trajectory of contemporary Chinese art with their innovative ideas and artistic forms. This period also saw the emergence of a new generation of Chinese painters, including LIU Xiaodong, YU Hong, and WANG Yuping, employing innovative techniques to depict the diverse facets of “people” in a rapidly changing Chinese society. Building on the context of social observation, LU Liang’s realistic paintings are infused with a mysterious narrative quality that vividly conveys relatable stories.

On the other hand, the evolving societal landscape of Taiwan also finds vibrant expression in the works of HUANG Ming Chang, SU Wong-shen, and LIEN Chien Hsing. Photorealistic techniques and magical realism articulate their perspectives on these transformations. Meanwhile, JENG Jundian employs repetitive, fragmented color lines as the fundamental unit in his paintings, revisiting visual themes such as color complementarity, light, and spatial relationships that have been explored since the Impressionist era.

The artworks of Wei Jane CHIR and Suling WANG are also predominantly abstract. Both female artists have lived abroad for extensive periods. CHIR explores the transient, floating states of body and mind, while WANG incorporates elements of her home culture into the flowing lines of Western painting. Su-Mei TSE, an artist of mixed Asian-European heritage, seamlessly transitions between sculpture, film, and installation in her artistic practice. She offers sensory explorations of sound and image, nature and culture, and the intersections of mind and space.

In the realm of three-dimensional art, Shida KUO’s sculptures probe into the essence of forms through various compositions. Similarly, the creations of LIN Yan, Szumin KUO, and Yi-Chen HUNG feature architectural elements, where they innovate by deconstructing materials to find new meanings. LIN redefines paper and ink through techniques like wrinkling, tearing, and pasting as her artistic language. KUO challenges the spatial perceptions of stainless steel by reversing its internal and external characteristics. HUNG deconstructs and reassembles elements of paintings, including canvas, pigments, and frames, to create new contexts.

Art mirrors the passage of time and encapsulates a microcosm of individual experiences. Over time, these works have not only pioneered the transition from modern to contemporary art, but their rich and inclusive meanings have also carved out a distinct cultural legacy for ESLITE GALLERY.