The National Museum of History (NMH) is running the exhibition “The Elsewhere of the Other: Sanyu and the Echoes of Expatriate Artists in Paris (他者．他方：常玉與旅法藝術家的巴黎跫音),” highlighting the works of Chinese artist Sanyu (常玉) and Japanese artist Tsuguharu Foujita (藤田嗣治), and their interaction with four pioneering Taiwanese artists – Chen Ching-fen (陳清汾), Yen Shui-long (顏水龍), Liu Chi-hsiang (劉啟祥), and Yang San-lang (楊三郎).
During the opening ceremony on Sept. 21, Culture Minister Li Yuan remarked that although Sanyu has never visited Taiwan, Taiwan has played a crucial role in establishing him as a world-renowned artist. He emphasized the significance of this exhibition as a major event since the NMH’s reopening in February.
The NMH acquired 42 oil paintings by Sanyu from the Ministry of Education in 1968. Since then, through additional allocations and acquisitions, the museum now holds a total of 52 of his works. From 1978 to 2017, the museum hosted six exhibitions of Sanyu’s art.
The exhibition focuses on the early to mid-20th century artistic interactions among Taiwan, Japan, China, and the French art scenes. By showcasing the works of Sanyu and other artists who studied in France, the exhibition aims to initiate a new phase in the study of Sanyu and modern Taiwanese art.
This exhibition is taking place until Dec. 8. For more information, visit the NMH’s website.