Yang Qian-Zhong (1925-1999)

Oil Painting

1973

Length:45.5 x Width:53 (cm)

This painting, one of Yang’s representative landscapes of his hometown in Yilan was completed by this artist at the age of 48. In the foreground, on the right and left, reef rocks appear to form a window that reveals the prelude to the sun’s rays shining on Turtle Island. Due to the time of year and weather, it is humid and there is fog. This makes the seas around Turtle Island appear obscured. Following the rhythm of the waves lapping against the reef rocks, fishing boats set out to begin the day’s work.
During the period that Taiwan was under martial law, artists and photographers were not allowed to observe, photograph or depict Taiwan’s seascapes. The official reason given was national security concerns. During the summer of 1956, Yang was invited by National Taiwan Normal University professor Liao Chi-Chun to paint the coastline near Beiguan in Yang’s hometown of Toucheng in Yilan. This was the first time that a depiction of the beauty of Turtle Island appeared on Taiwan’s art scene. This also led to the relaxation of the ban on the painting of Taiwan’s seascapes.
Seventeen years later, Yang completed a series of works on Turtle Island. This painting, Sunrise Over Turtle Island, is a classic work from this series. This painting and Liao’s 1970 Turtle Island masterpiece were exhibited side by side at East Gallery in October of 2014. This created a diverse dialogue on the esthetics of Taiwan’s coastline.

Accession number:A0250