Founder
Dr. Edward Ye Guo-Shin
Dr. Edward Ye Guo-Shin studied art appraisal and earned a doctorate in the UK. His early talent for calligraphy and painting led to a solo exhibition at age 12 and winning numerous accolades thereafter. He was admitted into the prestigious Department of Fine Arts, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) with top national scores in art.
Advanced Studies and Influential Mentor
He later studied in the UK under renowned experts, such as Dr. Wang Tao, currently Pritzker Chair of Arts of Asia, executive director of initiatives in Asia, and curator of Chinese art at the Art Institute of Chicago. He also studied art history with modern Chinese art authority Michael Sullivan, famous scholar Prof. Brian Falconbridge, as well as renown Chinese-American forensic scientist Dr. Henry Chang-yu Lee. His academic journey culminated in a doctorate for establishing his own art appraisal methodologies, blending Western and Eastern art research techniques.
Commitment to Improving the Art Appraisal Market
Driven by a desire to improve the chaotic art appraisal market, Dr. Ye has taught at multiple universities in Taiwan, including NTNU and National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA). He has also lectured at various museums and other academic institutions such as the Academy for the Judiciary of the Ministry of Justice. His appraisal expertise has been sought worldwide by auction houses, museums, and art foundations. In 2018, he published “Mo Hai Chun Qiu—Collection and Connoisseurship Research into Chinese Painting and Calligraphy”, a 750,000-character monograph that became the first of its kind to provide in-depth insight and analysis of the present, and future of the calligraphy and painting appraisal market in an academic, systematic and logical manner. This book not only contains rich and complete academic references with widely researched evidence, but also Dr. Ye’s own developed authentication theories and methodologies, including the “Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Authenticity Assessment Form”.
Notable Contributions in Art Curation
Dr. Ye is also an accomplished curator. He co-curated major exhibitions, such as the “Strait Crossing White Clouds- joint exhibition of Huang Chun-pi & Huang Shiang-ling” in 2016 and curated “Yao Qing Ji Yuan”, the first solo exhibition of Fu Yiyao in Taiwan in 2017. In 2019, his “Art Connoisseurship Exhibition” at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall drew over 600,000 visitors. He also curated “Artistic Transmission – Art Exhibition of Fu Baoshi & Fu Yiyao” in the same year. In 2023, he curated “Metamorphosis” at Cromwell Place, London, as part of Asian Art in London, as well as being nominated by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts to curate Chiang Ming-Shyan’s 80 years retrospective exhibition, “The Great Way is Gateless – The Artistic Journey of Chiang Ming-shyan”.
Establishment of Mo Hai Lou Art Appraisal Centre
Dr. Ye established the Mo Hai Lou Art Appraisal Centre in Taipei, which functions as a library, gallery, and art appraisal centre. He regularly consults for prominent cultural institutions, including the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, the National Palace Museum, and the Taiwan Ministry of Culture. His work has contributed significantly to the promotion of Oriental/Taiwanese art and the development of new appraisal standards. He also remains active in social welfare, serving on the boards of cultural foundations in Taiwan, such as the Tainan Culture Foundation, and the Tainan Art Museum.
A Vision for the Future of Art and Appraisal
Dr. Ye hopes to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Michael Sullivan, who introduced influential masters like Chang Dai-chien and Zao Wou-Ki to Western audiences, achieving both significant contributions to art history and remarkable success in the art markets. Inspired by this legacy, Dr. Ye seeks to discover the next generation of masters—whether in oil painting, ink painting, or other media—and showcase their talents in the West, while also bringing future Western masters to Eastern audiences. By doing so, he aims to create new, meaningful chapters in art history, while at the same time, through his art appraisal methods, he strives to help art enthusiasts acquire authentic, exquisite, and well-suited works of art.