Guangdong, 1926 - 2012

Yeh Shih-Chiang

Yeh Shih-Chiang was born in 1926 in Guangdong Province, China, and died in Taipei in 2012. He was among the last class of students at the Guangzhou Municipal Junior Art College under the directorship of the illustrious ink painter Gao Jianfu. In 1949, Yeh and a few classmates planned an art expedition to the famous Dunhuang Grottoes, but they were frustrated in the effort due to China’s civil war, which prompted them to redirect their journey to Taiwan instead; but here Yeh was caught up with the retreat of the National Republic government, and spent the rest of his life in Taiwan.

The experiences of his later youth, when he moved to Taiwan and was separated from his homeland, reflect the displacement, separation and mass migrations of the era. In...

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Biography

Yeh Shih-Chiang was born in 1926 in Guangdong Province, China, and died in Taipei in 2012. He was among the last class of students at the Guangzhou Municipal Junior Art College under the directorship of the illustrious ink painter Gao Jianfu. In 1949, Yeh and a few classmates planned an art expedition to the famous Dunhuang Grottoes, but they were frustrated in the effort due to China’s civil war, which prompted them to redirect their journey to Taiwan instead; but here Yeh was caught up with the retreat of the National Republic government, and spent the rest of his life in Taiwan.

The experiences of his later youth, when he moved to Taiwan and was separated from his homeland, reflect the displacement, separation and mass migrations of the era. In Taiwan, he lived the life of a recluse in the countryside, and taught only part time at the Fu-Hsin Trade and Art School and the Art Society of National Taiwan University. His teaching style and mentoring, exemplified by his words and deeds are remembered fondly by generations of students. Over the years, he also became celebrated as a maker of guqin (Chinese zither). In contrast to his fame as a maker of this music instrument, he was reluctant to exhibit his paintings and calligraphy, his true métier, although in time the legend of his art grew even with the limited works seen by Taiwan’s art circle. Living in extreme simplicity and isolation, Yeh sought to maintain the purity of his artistic pursuit by rejecting the institutional constraints of the art world, even as his lifelong vision was to find his place in art history. In Yeh’s final years, he rejected the offer of a major exhibition by the National Museum of History due to disagreement with standard curatorial practice. His first properly curated one-man show was presented posthumously to great critical acclaim by the Hong Kong Arts Center in 2015.

Artworks

34

White Butterfly (白玉蝶), 2012

Related Categories

21st Century Art / Abstract and Figurative / Abstract Painting / Abstraction / Animals/Birds / Archival Materials / Art after World War II / Art of the 1970s / Art of the 1980s / Art of the 1990s / Art of the 2000s / Art of the 2010s / Asian Art / Bold Composition / Bright Colors / Canvas / China / Chinese Art / Contemporary Chinese Art / Daily Life Experience / Flowers/Plants/Trees / Fruit and Florals / Gentle and Smooth Brushstrokes / Guangdong / Inspiration from Nature / Lyrical Expression / Nature / Oil on Canvas / Oil Paint / Oil Painting / Painting / Post-War Asian Art / Post-War Chinese Art / Restrained Expression / Simplicity / Taipei / Taiwan

Curriculum Vitae

Chronology

  • 2019

    Yeh Shih-Chiang: Edge of Sea and Sky, Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong

  • Taipei Dangdai 2019, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan

  • Ink Now 2019, Expo Dome, Taipei Expo Park, Taipei, Taiwan

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Curriculum Vitae

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Chronology

  • 2019

    Yeh Shih-Chiang: Edge of Sea and Sky, Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong

  • Taipei Dangdai 2019, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan

  • Ink Now 2019, Expo Dome, Taipei Expo Park, Taipei, Taiwan

  • 2018

    The Armory Show 2018, Piers 92 & 94, New York, USA

  • 2016

    Beyond the Globe | 8th Triennial of Contemporary Art – U3, Moderna galerija, Slovenia

  • Taipei Biennial 2016, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

  • 2015

    ILLUMINATED PRESENCE: Yeh Shih-Chiang: Paintings and Calligraphy + Yeh Wei-li: Interpretive Works, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

  • 2012

    Passed away on June 11th at the age 86.

  • 2006

    The Art of Yeh Shih-Chiang, which also included 10 seminars, was presented at the Wistaria Tea House in Taipei, with information and materials organized by poet and critic, Huang Liang. The focus of Yeh Shih-Chiang’s life also gradually shifted from Hua Lien to Hsin Dian. Married Lin Ju-yi who has been in relationship with Yeh for almost 25 years.

  • 2004

    Began to participate in group exhibitions sporadically and held a few small-scale solo exhibitions.

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Exhibitions on eazel

 

Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong

Mar 22 - Jun 03, 2019

Edge of Sea and Sky

Yeh Shih-Chiang

Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong

Mar 22 - Jun 03, 2019