The early painting ofChang Dai-chien (1899-1983) was strongly influenced by the Ming-Qing individualist artists Shitao (1642-1707) and Bada shanren (1626-1707), but he also looked back to the Sui-Tang period and the Northern Wei of China’s past.
Chang spent years studying the works of ancient masters, absorbing from them the essence of traditional brush and ink methods. In the end, he achieved excellence in the major techniques and subjects of Chinese painting, from landscapes to figures, birds-and-flowers, and animals.
Learned and practiced in art, he was moreover a keen connoisseur who offered astute insights into the history of Chinese painting. He is perhaps most famous, however, for developing a breathtaking manner of painting known as “splashed colors.” Taking traditional splashed ink into new territory, he created a style that would become a trademark of his art. In calligraphy as well, Chang Dai-chien excelled at copying various script types, fusing them into a highly individual and powerfully fresh manner that is a perfect complement to his versatile skill in painting. With a career as an artist spanning more than six decades and seemingly unlimited energy, a large number of his works survive today. Together, they testify to the great cultural heritage that Chang left behind for the world to admire.
Chang Dai-chien had a close relationship with the National Palace Museum. Chang bequested a large number of his precious artworks, along with the seals that he used, to the collection of the Museum after his passing. At the same time, his Abode of Maya was presented as a memorial residence and is now managed by the Museum as well. This year, 2019, marks the 120th anniversary of Chang Dai-chien’s birth. In commemoration, a selection from the finest works in the National Palace Museum collection and those temporarily entrusted from the National Museum of History of his painting and calligraphy, seals, and precious photographs has been made for this special exhibition. It offers a retrospective of the features and essence of Chang Dai-chien’s art from the early, middle, and late stages of his career, providing audiences with a comprehensive outline to the unparalleled legacy of this legendary master of modern times.
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Image: Courtesy of National Palace Museum Taipei
