Authenticity in Art Appreciation Exhibition
With the modern art market thriving, artworks have become a significant component of asset allocation. However, due to a supply-demand imbalance, art forgery and fraud have become rampant, causing severe harm to the public. Many individuals unknowingly acquire counterfeit paintings, believing them to be treasured family heirlooms, only to discover the deception when they attempt to sell them, resulting in total loss.
Recognizing this issue, Dr. Yeh Kuo-Hsin, the first Ph.D. in art appraisal in the Chinese community, believes that everyone should possess basic appraisal skills. As a result, he has organized the “Authenticity in Art Appreciation Exhibition” in the central corridor of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, openly sharing secrets on how to identify art forgeries.
This exhibition teaches the public to evaluate the authenticity of artworks through various methods, including style analysis and supporting verification. It features a wealth of materials showcasing the evolution of different renowned artists’ styles, commonly used paper, seals, and other authentic artifacts. For instance, it displays the seal used by modern master Fu Baoshi and the special paper utilized by Taiwanese contemporary artist Jiang Zhaoshen. The exhibition includes a unique seal, “抱石” (Baoshi), carved by the renowned seal engraver Wang Yiyu for Fu Baoshi. Wang and Fu were close friends, often discussing seals, and Fu admired Wang’s craftsmanship so much that he commissioned this seal. After Fu Baoshi’s passing, his daughter, the contemporary artist Fu Yiyao, donated important artifacts, including paintings, manuscripts, and seals, to national museums such as the Nanjing Museum. This “抱石” seal has become one of the few remaining pieces in Fu Yiyao’s collection and is among the rare Fu Baoshi seals still held privately.
Fu Yiyao expressed her admiration for Dr. Yeh’s passion for art appraisal and his profound understanding of her father’s artistic legacy: “I’ve known Dr. Yeh for many years. His enthusiasm and expertise in the appraisal of calligraphy and painting have always impressed me. We first met in the UK, where his precise and deep appreciation of my father Fu Baoshi’s art sparked our enduring connection. I have never encountered anyone as dedicated as him, willing to thoroughly research a subject. With the market flooded with counterfeit works of Fu Baoshi, I have been deeply troubled, fearing that people may not recognize what constitutes truly good art. However, meeting Dr. Yeh has shifted my perspective; he instills in me a sense of hope. His strong sense of mission to discern authenticity and quality feels innate. He frequently consults me about my father’s choice of paper and brushes during different periods, and each detail he uncovers brings him great joy. His genuine dedication has touched me deeply. Therefore, I decided to share several of my father’s unfinished sketches, originally kept as study references, with Dr. Yeh. He can interpret how my father started and ended his brushstrokes from still images and apply these insights to the right purpose. I believe it is a fortunate and blessed encounter for an artist to meet such a dedicated researcher. It feels as though there is a lasting energy of inheritance, illuminating my father’s passion for art.”
This passion will be on full display in this exhibition, conveying the mission of art appraisal to all attendees.
