Chiang Ming-Hsien dedicated his entire life to the exploration and experimentation of ink painting. He once remarked, “When I speak of Chinese painting, I do not refer to it in the narrow sense of materials and content. Rather, I refer to the spirit of Eastern art, which is rooted in the profound humanistic and philosophical ideals of Chinese painting. This foundation serves as the skeleton upon which Western art theories and techniques are integrated, forming a modern Chinese painting that is distinct from tradition yet not detached from it.” Through this perspective, Chiang’s open-mindedness and dynamic drive are clear. He successfully blended the spirits of Eastern and Western painting, merging traditional Chinese philosophies—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism—with a harmonious worldview of humans and nature. This unique synthesis of traditional ink painting and Western artistic principles is imprinted in his work, creating pieces that have both deep meaning and broad appeal, culminating in artworks that reflect the era’s spirit while also carrying distinct individuality.

The Director of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Chen Kan-I, commented that Chiang Ming-Hsien is not only a master of modern ink painting in Taiwan’s art history but also an influential educator. During his time teaching at National Taiwan Normal University, he mentored many future leaders in the art world, cementing his importance in the art community. Chiang’s work skillfully combines the two major elements of Western realism and Eastern freehand brushwork. This exhibition showcases more than a hundred of his ink paintings created over the past fifty years, along with several experimental calligraphy works. In addition to borrowing pieces from various municipal museums and galleries, the exhibition also features rare works from private collectors, offering a unique opportunity to view these treasured works.