《Creating Landscapes with the Heart: “The Great Way Has No Gate—
The large-scale ink and color exhibition, The Great Way Has No Gate—The Artistic Journey of Chiang Ming-Shyan, officially opened today at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA). This exhibition highlights key works from the five-decade-long career of Taiwanese artist Chiang Ming-Shyan, featuring pieces from his graduation works at NTNU in 1968 to his recent experimental calligraphy series. Curated by Dr. Yeh Kuo-Hsin, the exhibition presents the artist’s creative evolution in five thematic sections: Nostalgic Sentiments, Mountains and Rivers of the World, The Poetic Transformation, Beyond the Physical World, and The Formless Ink Chapters, showcasing a total of 106 pieces. This exhibition is Chiang’s most extensive solo presentation to date since his notable exhibitions at the National Museum of History in 2017, Taoyuan City Government in 2022, and the Ink and Water—The Art of Chiang Ming-Shyan exhibit at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in 2015.
On December 9, Director Chen Kuang-I inaugurated the opening ceremony, with prominent guests in attendance, including Legislator Huang Kuo-shu, former Control Yuan President Chang Po-ya, Ministry of Culture’s Liang Yong-Fei, Director Lin Chiu-Fang of the Tainan Art Museum, Director Pan Hsiang of the Asia University Museum of Modern Art, and over a hundred others. Dr. Wang Wen-Yang, President of the Hung-Ren Group, also attended from Taipei to extend his congratulations. President Tsai Ing-wen sent a congratulatory message, acknowledging Chiang’s lifetime achievements and wishing the exhibition success. Following the opening ceremony, Dr. Yeh and Chiang Ming-Shyan led a guided tour, providing insights into the curatorial vision and the significance of the exhibited works.
A documentary film, which took a year to produce and features interviews with experts, was also screened. Chiang expressed his creative philosophy and journey, sharing his dedication and unchanging spirit. Dr. Ye explained Chiang’s artistic language and the origins and stories behind his creative concepts, guiding guests to deepen their understanding of Chiang’s aesthetics and the ideas central to his works.
Dr. Ye intentionally minimized the use of door frames in the exhibition space and designed the layout with the Buddhist symbol “卍” to reflect the exhibition’s theme, The Pathless Way, rooted in Buddhist philosophy. To fully showcase the artist’s meticulous work, the exhibit is organized around the five thematic sections, with a landscaped area at the entrance to provide a visual rest space for viewing Chiang’s large panoramic paintings. This layout aims to offer the public a fresh, comprehensive experience, marked by thoughtful design.
Emphasizing the grandeur of this ink-and-color exhibition, Dr. Ye referred to a statement by Chiang in the documentary’s introduction: “The path is boundless, yet the directions are countless; only by passing through can one stand alone in the universe.” Chiang’s unique ink language conveys a part of the evolution of modern and contemporary Taiwanese ink art, imbuing Taiwan’s art history with pride and originality, marking an indelible chapter in the artistic landscape.
For decades, Chiang has been passionate about ink-and-color painting, exploring its traditional roots and modern transformations to uncover its diverse possibilities. Dr. Ye observed, “What appears spontaneous and inspired is, in fact, carefully considered like a game of strategy, adapting to change. Achieving harmony in form and spirit, Chiang’s work embodies a dynamic, innovative, and evolving approach. His art is the culmination of decades of experimental exploration of Eastern and Western art.” He invites everyone to visit NTMoFA this winter and, through the exhibition, feel as though they are journeying through the landscapes Chiang once traversed, witnessing the artist’s achievement of an enduring personal vision in his art.
