Co-hosted by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) and the Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA), the exhibition “Huang Tu-Shui and His Time: Taiwan’s First Western-style Sculptor and the Tokyo Fine Arts School in the Early 20th Century (黃土水及其時代：台灣首名西方雕塑家與20世紀初的東京美術學校)” opened on Sep. 6 until Oct. 20. This exhibition features 58 pieces by artists from Taiwan and Japan, including Huang Tu-shui’s “Water of Immortality (甘露水),” recognized as Taiwan’s national treasure in 2023.
Along with NTMoFA Director Chen Kuang-yi (陳貺怡), TUA President Katsuhiko Hibino (日比野克彥), and Director Hiroko Kurokawa (黒川廣子) of the University Art Museum, TUA, the inauguration ceremony of the exhibition was attended by Culture Minister Li Yuan on Sep. 5 during his official visit to Japan.
Bringing Huang Tu-shui’s artwork from Taiwan to his alma mater, the Tokyo Fine Arts School (now TUA), Minister Li said that his visit aims to enhance Taiwan-Japan partnership in cultural affairs. He expressed his hope to promote both Taiwanese and Japanese culture globally through continued collaboration.
NTMoFA Director Chen explained that Huang Tu-shui began with wood sculpture and adopted Western sculpture techniques during his time in the Tokyo Fine Arts School from 1915 to 1922. In addition to highlighting Huang’s notable works, this exhibition also reflects how Japanese artists sought to preserve their cultural identity amidst strong Western influences, she added.