典藏單位:國立中正紀念堂管理處

館藏編號:PT09785400

簡錫圭

尺寸:92x80x4(含框)

簡錫圭(1936- )，台灣南投人，畢業於國立台灣師範大學美術系(47級)。1959年與張錦樹、廖修平等人創立台灣今日畫會，被推選並擔任理事長前後20年，任今日畫家協會名譽會長、台灣藝術家法國沙龍學會、國父紀念館展覽諮詢委員。1962年發起台灣首次美術設計展「黑白展」，後入廣告界三十二年。其創作多來自於對台灣這塊土地的感動、關懷與記錄。運用印象派技法，揉合以表現主義般的主觀情感之人文風景畫為主，穩健平實地走向抒情的寫意風格表現。「天地有大美而不言」，驅使其創作的動力，源自對這般毋需多言之心靈實在的追求。
作品用色沉穩大膽，具象但不完全寫實，是後期印象派的表現，卻又帶有那比派（Nabis）的感覺。以其敏銳的觀察力與對人事物特殊理性詮釋的豐富情感表現，歸納在同一個主題裡，用統一的光線氣氛，表現無限的想像空間。同時不論畫景、畫人、畫物，都撒上了耀眼的光線，呈現出朝氣蓬勃的意境，在這樣看似神話的寓意中，給了觀者無限遐思的寬廣空間。
作者利用臺灣民主紀念館在臺灣民主史上有著相當的重要性，透過天使這樣一個純潔無暇的角色，讓為數眾多的天使守護著臺灣民主紀念館這塊牌匾，如同神話或是聖經人物被烘托擁戴昇天一般，以期能讓臺灣民主永續，守護民主自由。(501字)

Chien Hsi-Kuei (1936-), born in Nantou, Taiwan, graduated from the Fine Arts Department at National Taiwan Normal University (Class of 1958). In 1959, he co-founded the Taiwan Modern Painting Association with Chang Jin-Shu and Liao Hsiu-Ping, serving as its chairman for twenty years. He also holds positions as the honorary president of the Modern Painters Association, a member of the Taiwan Artists French Salon Society, and an exhibition advisory committee member at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. In 1962, he initiated Taiwan's first art design exhibition, the "Black and White Exhibition," and later spent thirty-two years in the advertising industry. His works are inspired by his deep emotional connection to, concern for, and documentation of Taiwan. Utilizing Impressionist techniques combined with the subjective emotional expression of Expressionism, he primarily focuses on humanistic landscapes, steadily moving toward a lyrical and expressive style. "The great beauty of heaven and earth speaks without words" drives his creative motivation, stemming from a pursuit of profound, wordless spiritual truth.
Chien's use of color is both bold and subdued, representing a post-Impressionist approach that carries a touch of the Nabis' sensibility. His works, characterized by keen observation and a uniquely rational interpretation of people and events, are unified under a single theme with a consistent light atmosphere, offering boundless imaginative space. Whether depicting scenes, people, or objects, his works are infused with dazzling light, evoking a vigorous and lively mood, providing viewers with ample room for contemplation within a seemingly mythological context.
In his depiction of the Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, Chien emphasizes its significant role in Taiwan's democratic history. Through the portrayal of angels as pure and immaculate beings, he envisions numerous angels guarding the plaque of the Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, akin to mythological or biblical figures being exalted. This imagery aims to symbolize the perpetual protection and sustenance of Taiwan's democracy and freedom.