Chinese name: 葉竑毅
Did You Know That…?
Yeh Hong-yi was recognized as a preserver of paper conservation techniques by the New Taipei City Government in 2021.
Ever since his high school years, Yeh Hong-yi has always had an interest in traditional Chinese art. After graduating from high school, he began learning the fundamentals of painting and calligraphy restoration under Liu Yung-shou (劉永壽), the owner of an antique Chinese painting shop.
Yeh later entered the National Palace Museum (NPM), working under the tutelage of Lin Sheng-pan (林勝伴), a painting and calligraphy mounter. Recalling his early days at the NPM, Yeh said that it took him three months just to get the basics right. He started out making paste and tearing paper to be used for the conservation process, and would often get blisters on his fingers due to the rough texture of the paper.
Yeh has helped to conserve numerous paintings from different historical periods, ranging from the creations of modern artists such as Chang Dai-chien (張大千) and Pu Xinyu (溥心畬, also known as Puru) to Song dynasty artist Ma Yuan’s (馬遠) “Bamboo and Cranes (竹鶴圖)”. In addition to the collections of the NPM, Yeh has also participated in the restoration of other artworks from various organizations and museums, including the Lin Yutang House (林語堂故居), Ju Ming Museum (朱銘美術館), the National Museum of Natural Science, and Zhai Ming Monastery (齋明寺).
In 2021, Yeh was recognized as a preserver of paper conservation techniques because of his dedication and contributions. He believes it is only through strenuous conservation efforts that these works of art can be kept in good condition, allowing more people to appreciate the beauty of Chinese painting and calligraphy.
The history of Chinese paper conservation techniques dates back to over 2000 years ago. Employing the process of zhuangbiao (裝裱), the traditional art of mounting paintings and calligraphy on paper and fabric, these artworks are carefully restored using appropriate materials that match the shade and tone of the artwork, which can take up to a year to complete depending on the size of the work and the severity of damage.
(Photo credit: The Cultural Affairs Department of the New Taipei City Government)