《Anita Wong: 10 Years of Remembrance –
This retrospective exhibition honours the life and legacy of Professor Anita Wong Chen Jingwen (1947-2007), an artist celebrated for her expressive use of colour and brushstrokes, bridging Eastern and Western, traditional and modern art. Organized by the Anita Wong Foundation and the Mo Hai Lou International Art Research Group, in collaboration with the National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA), this exhibition presents Anita’s representative works for the first time in a comprehensive display. Additionally, the exhibition includes a selection of award-winning works from NTUA’s Chen Jingwen Painting Creation Award, sponsored by the Foundation over the years. The exhibition will run from June 9 to June 19 at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
Anita Wong grew up in an artistic family and moved to the UK during her youth. Between 1969 and 1972, she earned diplomas in interior design and painting. After moving to the U.S., she obtained a degree in visual arts in 1978 and began teaching modern sketching at NTUA (formerly the National School of Art) in 1982. Although she took a hiatus from her art career in 1985 to support her family’s business, Wang returned to painting in 1998 with encouragement from her artistic circle. By 2000, she re-established her presence in the art world with solo and group exhibitions internationally, where her distinctive, bold “dynamic brushwork” style captivated audiences.
Curator Dr. Ye Guo-Shin notes that Anita Wong’s artistic journey can be divided into two stages, with the year 2000 marking a turning point. The earlier phase represents her academic and spiritual preparation, while post-2000, Anita Wong’s signature style fully emerged, blending traditional and modern, figurative and abstract, Eastern and Western influences. Her work embodies a harmonious wisdom that invites viewers to explore landscapes, space, and emotional resonance, evoking calm amid movement.
In addition to 23 Western-style paintings, this exhibition will feature Anita Wong’s calligraphy works for the first time. Curator Dr. Ye explains that Anita Wong’s calligraphy, a practice she cultivated from a young age, displays a unique balance of strength and gentleness, capturing her essence. The exhibit also includes selected works from the Chen Jingwen Painting Creation Award, showcasing the winning entries from the past four years.
A commemorative catalog and video compilation accompany the exhibition. Dr. Ye employed his expertise in art authentication to analyze Anita Wong’s paintings, calligraphy, sketches, and works previously unseen in Taiwan. The catalog and video aim to present a comprehensive interpretation of her artistic contributions, enriched by commentary from art scholars across China and Taiwan.
This exhibition, marking the 10th anniversary of Anita Wong Chen Jingwen’s passing, reaffirms her spirit of gratitude toward the earth through art. Friends, family, and all who appreciate art are warmly invited to celebrate the extraordinary life and artistry of Anita Wong Chen Jingwen.
