Introduction
A history of action that weaves incessantly between the threads of time, landscape, and life
Su Hsien-Fa (1948-) brings us the ‘ceiling’ of contemporary oil painting in Taiwan with his exhibited works. As the president of Taiwan’s highest academic art organization, the Taiwan Academy of Fine Arts, Su has long been dedicated to artistic creation and education, encouraging his students to find a balance between tradition and modernity, East and West, fostering unique artistic perspectives. His influence has profoundly shaped the styles of a new generation of Taiwanese artists. As a highly influential figure in Taiwan’s contemporary oil painting scene, Su is also regarded as a ‘titan’ in Taiwan’s art market. His works combine the techniques of traditional Eastern brushwork with the abstract expressionism of Western modern art. In recent years, his “Four Seasons” series, themed around the changing seasons, not only demonstrates his unrelenting passion for creation but also captures the passage of time and its beauty. Through his varied and romantic color palette, he skillfully conveys spatial experiences and travel memories, constructing a delicate, powerful, rich, tranquil, and poetic universe of imagery.
Su’s decades-long creative journey interweaves three primary elements: time, landscape, and life. Over the past twenty years, the focus has evolved from national boundaries to visual horizons, and then to spiritual realms. This progression has resulted in the construction of an imagery universe that is both delicate and grand, abundant yet serene, material yet poetic, and pure yet ever-changing.
Eastern philosophies have played a profound role in shaping Su’s creative approach, particularly concepts of states, atmosphere, void and reality, tonality, and calligraphic linear elements. These ideas have been integral to the artist’s work for many years. The nearly monochromatic series, including “Golden Waves”, “Winter Snow”, “Winter Plum”, and “Ink Plum”, showcase mastery of techniques such as ink movement, washing, line work, and the use of blank space.
The “Summer Lotus” series stands as the best representation of these philosophies. Rooted deeply in Oriental traditions, Su’s approach has evolved from early observational sketches to capturing the essence of the subject. The lotus imagery is skilfully employed, not only to reproduce its “atmosphere,” but also to evoke the “pure-sphere” created by its fragrance and calming presence. Through a delicate balance between representation and abstraction, the artist plays with ink to unite spirit and form, creating a unique universe that transcends both the self and the surroundings.