Exhibition of Pioneering Taiwanese Watercolor Artist Ni Chiang-huai Opens

TaiwanPlus News

A large collection of works by one of Taiwan’s earliest watercolor artists, Ni Chiang-huai, is now on display at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Known for his depictions of everyday life in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era, Ni's legacy resonates to the present day.

Transcript

00:00These depictions of everyday life and urban landscapes during Taiwan's Japanese colonial era

00:05were brought to life by the brush of watercolour artist Ni Jianghuai.

00:09He's known as a pioneer of the medium in Taiwan.

00:12And after years of restoration and research,

00:15one of the most extensive presentations of his works is now open to the public.

00:19Ni Jianghuai

00:42Born in 1894, Ni was the first Taiwanese student of Japanese painter Ishikawa Kinichiro,

00:48who first introduced him to watercolours.

00:51But faced with the financial realities of pursuing a life in the arts,

00:55Ni decided to embark on a career in the mining industry instead.

00:59Still, he never stopped painting.

01:18And those daily scenes, including Taiwan's mines in the harbours of Jilong are celebrated not only for their artistic beauty,

01:42but also as rich historical records of their time.

01:46Like the stamps on some works like this one,

01:48showing the seal of approval by inspections from Jilong Fortress Command,

01:52a reminder of the oversight of the Japanese military at the time.

01:57Also among the vast materials donated were the artist's personal diaries,

02:01in which he detailed his dream of having his own gallery,

02:04the Baofeng Art Museum, which has been brought to life here,

02:08complete with a free admission sign and a library,

02:11just as he had envisaged in his notes.

02:14And although it didn't materialise in his lifetime,

02:17visitors can walk through it today as part of the journey through his evolution.

02:21And that delicate style admired by visitors today is only part of Ni's legacy.

02:47The artist remained deeply committed to nurturing and developing Taiwan's art scene,

02:53from his participation in Taiwan's Watercolour Society,

02:56to founding the Taiwan Painting Institute, mentoring younger artists.

03:00And as visitors moved through the exhibition,

03:02they witnessed not just the evolution of his technique,

03:05but the enduring impact he left on Taiwanese art.

03:08More than 80 years after his passing,

03:11Ni's brushstrokes still coloured Taiwan's modern art history,

03:14a testament to a mining entrepreneur who never gave up on his passion for painting.

03:19Kamashu and Izzywals for Taiwan Plus.

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