When East Meets West And Sea Meets Sky – Over 30 Oil Paintings By Late Master Yeh Shih-Chiang On Display | Alternative Fruit

Through the months of March to May, visitors to the Hanart TZ Gallery in Hong Kong can immerse themselves in the groundbreaking work of Shih-Chiang. An exhibition dedicated to the artist named “Edge of Sea and Sky” will allow art-lovers to explore in minute detail the methods and masterpieces left behind by this sought after painter. Over thirty pieces will make up the solo exhibition, allowing a full range of his work to be visually dissected.


The work expressed a major theme of the time which could be found in the East. Post-war-modernism had become a major export from Western society and it quickly began to influence artists from outside of its area of origin. Arriving in Taiwan in 1949 from his home town in China, after visiting as an art student a few years earlier, it seemed Shih-Chiang had grown fond of the location. The art scene there undoubtedly provided him with the inspiration and encouragement he needed to fulfil his visions.


The combination of influences of the day resulted in a form of Chinese Modernism which has become a template for other later works to draw from. Chinese work of the day typically used ink as its medium. With the work of Shih-Chiang, he wanted to symbolise and represent the ingrained problems with Chinese art culture. He felt that artists were continually pushed into representing political opinion and working to benefit the state if they wanted to be given the respect of the community. Shih-Chiang didn't like this, and he showed it by doing something uniquely him.


These oil paintings, created outside of China, show a clear vein of anti-establishment. Using an alternative medium and drawing so heavily on Western influences as well as remaining abstract and non-statesmanly, Yeh Shih-Chiang left a trailblazing line of influence all for himself. Is that what it takes to make an arts master? What do you think?

Take a look at this slide-show of the oil paintings by Yeh Shih-Chiang
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