Yan Hsia

Biography

Yan Hsia was the main founding member of the Ton-Fan Group. Serving as the first chairman of the group, Hsia is one of the most influential representatives of Taiwanese modern art movement. He believes that the real artist interaction depends upon the fact that local artists interact and collaborate with various cultures without losing their rooted cultural values. Returning to homeland after being abroad for years, with profound serenity and a sense of humor, Hsia incorporates contemporary art with traditional aesthetics, developing a new possibility of art.

His painting style is oriental. It is not only the imagery of the God of Integrity (Lord Guan), the God of Wealth, and Sword in Lion's Mouth, but more importantly, the Chinese style of landscapes with simple brushstrokes, which is serene and harmonious, fresh and dynamic. With his internationally well-known Fuzzy People creative style, Hsia employs different lines to reflect the dynamism of figures and feelings of movement. Lines in Chinese art are in motion and express the condensation of spirit. He even transforms traditional silhouette skills into his works, creating a bright and easy atmosphere, similar to pastoral poetry. Hsia is fond of verse and consequently combines verse with artworks. His works are rich in the charm of Chinese literati art, representing what the Chinese saying goes "There is a picture in the poem and a poem in the picture." Throughout Hsia's artistic journey, he does not stick to single style or medium. Instead, he strikes a balance between contemporary and traditional art, and further produces a new look of contemporary literati style.

Yan Hsia was born in Hunan, China in 1932. He graduated from Nanjing Normal University and came to Taiwan with the army in 1949. Then he studied painting under Lee Chung-Shen in Taipei in 1951. In 1956, Hsia co-founded Ton-Fan Group with Chen Tao-Ming, Hsiao Chin, and others, with the aim of encouraging the preciousness of innovation, and was dubbed "The Eight Highwaymen of the East." In 1959, he represented Taiwan at the São Paulo Art Biennial. Hsia spent nearly 30 years abroad, from Paris, Milan to New York, where the Fuzzy People and Photorealism style established. His signature artistic style garnered a favorable attention internationally. The achievement resulted in an exclusive contract with OK Harris Gallery, which caused sensation among Chinese art circle in New York, and set a milestone in the history of Taiwanese contemporary art by entering the international art world. In 1980, he was invited to back to Taiwan to host a solo exhibition, and he settled in Taipei in 1992. In 2000, the National Culture and Arts Foundation presented him with the National Art and Culture Award. In 2002, Hsia settled down in Shanghai.