The Essential: New Acquisitions

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The Essential: New Acquisitions

2018.07.14 - 2018.10.21 KMFA Galleries 201~202

Artists
Liu Chi-hsiang , Chuang Shih-ho , Liao Shiou-ping , Hsiao Ming-hsien , Huang Kuang-nan , Echo Lew , Wang Hsin-feng , Lee Jiun-shyan
Lin Hong-wen , Lulu Shur-tzy Hou , Hsueh Pao-shia , Yuma Taru , Yang Shun-fa , Shi Jin-hua , Yuan Goang-Ming , Kao Jun-Honn

The core values of an art museum are its collections, which have important social functions. Because of the Kaohsiung City Government’s commitment to provide the budgetary support for KMFA’s collection acquiring for the following three years after its becoming of a public agency, KMFA has been able to start a new collection strategy “focusing on the essential areas.” Instead of following a chronological order, the strategy emphasizes the most representative works of major artists in the art development of Taiwan. Under this collection blueprint especially customized for KMFA, the museum attempts to acquire art works of high quality and build a complete collection to represent the art history of Taiwan.

The acquisitions of essential works this year follow two main directions: The context of art in southern Taiwan and observation of contemporary art. Regarding the classical works by artists of southern Taiwan, the most important two works purchased are Studio by Liu Chi-hsiang and Melancholy of Poets by Chuang Shih-ho. Liu Chi-hsiang was a pivotal figure in the art history of southern Taiwan, and his work Studio had been selected for the exhibition of the Japanese artistic group Nika-kai. This masterpiece was made by Liu during his stay in Japan—a period when he established his personal style. Chuang Shih-ho was a pioneer of avant-garde art of Taiwan. Made in 1942, Melancholy of Poets was Chuang’s early cubist collage work, which served as an index of early development of abstract art in Taiwan. The new acquisitions of contemporary art include A 100 km Walk by Jin-hua Shi, an internationally active artist from Kaohsiung known for his conceptual and performance arts, and Documemory by Kao Jun-honn, which represents a new type of contemporary art by highlighting concepts, performance, archives, and documents. The works of contemporary image art newly acquired include An Uncanny Tomorrow by the video art pioneer Yuan Goang-ming and The Submerged Beauty of Formosa by Yang Shun-fa. In addition, Convolution of Life by Yuma Taru, a master artist of Atayal Tribe, was added to enrich KMFA’s Austronesian art collection, which combines the soft and hard characteristics of textiles to make them dance in the light.

KMFA received rich donations in the past year, both in quality and quantity. There were 56 pieces of works donated to the museum, whose total values reach TWD53,093,480—approximately 2.6 times of the museum’s collection budget this year. Special thanks go to the donors who made large donations. The family of the early-generation artist Liu Chi-hsiang generously donated Liu’s works to KMFA, such as Fish and The Basket of Lychee, hoping that KMFA will have more materials to study, display, and promote the essential works from its collection in the future. Moreover, the print master Liao Shiou-ping donated 24 works, and the ink painting master Huang Kuang-nan donated 10 works. All the gifts represent the two artists’ arts and life experiences at different stages of their careers.

While celebrating its anniversary, KMFA holds this exhibition of new acquisitions to demonstrate its emphasis on collections, as well as to convey sincere gratitude to all donors. The museum also shows its caring about the social responsibility it should assume after becoming a public agency. It shares the artistic heritage with the public, in the hope that the collections can become the cultural images of the city.

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Exhibition

The Essential: New Acquisitions

Stream of Forms: LIANG Jen-hung Solo Exhibition

Mirror of the World-Gifts to KMFA 2021-2023

Upcoming│CAPTURING THE MOMENT