Exhibition of Pioneering Taiwanese Watercolor Artist Ni Chiang-huai Opens

TaiwanPlus News

A large collection of works by one of Taiwan’s earliest watercolor artists, Ni Chiang-huai, is now on display at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Known for his depictions of everyday life in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era, Ni's legacy resonates to the present day.

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00:00These depictions of everyday life and urban landscapes during Taiwan's Japanese colonial era

00:05were brought to life by the brush of watercolour artist Ni Jianghuai.

00:09He's known as a pioneer of the medium in Taiwan.

00:12And after years of restoration and research,

00:15one of the most extensive presentations of his works is now open to the public.

00:19Ni Jianghuai

00:42Born in 1894, Ni was the first Taiwanese student of Japanese painter Ishikawa Kinichiro,

00:48who first introduced him to watercolours.

00:51But faced with the financial realities of pursuing a life in the arts,

00:55Ni decided to embark on a career in the mining industry instead.

00:59Still, he never stopped painting.

01:18And those daily scenes, including Taiwan's mines in the harbours of Jilong are celebrated not only for their artistic beauty,

01:42but also as rich historical records of their time.

01:46Like the stamps on some works like this one,

01:48showing the seal of approval by inspections from Jilong Fortress Command,

01:52a reminder of the oversight of the Japanese military at the time.

01:57Also among the vast materials donated were the artist's personal diaries,

02:01in which he detailed his dream of having his own gallery,

02:04the Baofeng Art Museum, which has been brought to life here,

02:08complete with a free admission sign and a library,

02:11just as he had envisaged in his notes.

02:14And although it didn't materialise in his lifetime,

02:17visitors can walk through it today as part of the journey through his evolution.

02:21And that delicate style admired by visitors today is only part of Ni's legacy.

02:47The artist remained deeply committed to nurturing and developing Taiwan's art scene,

02:53from his participation in Taiwan's Watercolour Society,

02:56to founding the Taiwan Painting Institute, mentoring younger artists.

03:00And as visitors moved through the exhibition,

03:02they witnessed not just the evolution of his technique,

03:05but the enduring impact he left on Taiwanese art.

03:08More than 80 years after his passing,

03:11Ni's brushstrokes still coloured Taiwan's modern art history,

03:14a testament to a mining entrepreneur who never gave up on his passion for painting.

03:19Kamashu and Izzywals for Taiwan Plus.

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