An oil painting exhibition featuring portraits of Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水), one of Taiwan's pioneering cultural and political activists, will open to the public at the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei from April 11 to 26.
Dubbed "the mentor of Taiwan's democratic movement,” Chiang (1891-1931) founded several social movement groups, including the Taiwan Cultural Society, the Taiwan People's Party, and the General Alliance of Taiwanese Workers, and led cultural and social campaigns to rebel against the political oppression of the Japanese colonial authorities. These movements helped enlighten the Taiwanese people and marked the beginning of an era of rigorous cultural development and elevated ethnic awareness.
The Chiang Wei-shui Cultural Foundation has commissioned painter Liu Yang-che (劉洋哲), who was master painter Lee Tze-Fan (李澤藩)'s disciple, to paint oil portraits based on historical photos of Chiang. The 71-year-old painter's work is characterized by rich colors and the accurate portrayal of a person's spirit. The charisma and confident posture of the late Chiang, one of the top Taiwanese intellectuals, were brought to life again in Lee's paintings.
The opening ceremony for the "Era of Self-Awakening” exhibition is scheduled for April 12 at the memorial hall.