Hsiao Chong-Ray

Landscape paintings were the staple of Taiwan’s New Art Movement in the period of Japanese rule. Artworks created by painters using sketching techniques reintroduced the land of Taiwan and brought a sense of Taiwanese cultural identity, especially after the great developments that were made in Taiwanese landscape sketching in this period. This movement was the past generation of painters’ sacred mission and duty.

These Taiwanese artists had various areas of focus. Based on their themes, their landscape paintings could be roughly split into six categories: 1. The Waters and Vapors of Taiwan, 2. The Sunny South, 3. The Colors of the Islands, 4. The Cultural Scenery, 5. The Radiance of Ink and Color, and 6. The Beauty of the Countryside.

Taiwan is a land of both beauty and vitality. Its landscape reflects the inner states of Taiwanese artists and Japanese artists residing within the island and is also a major topic in the study of Taiwanese art.