For its 2023 annual art exhibition, Soka Art Taipei is honored to invite internationally renowned contemporary ink painting artist, Tai Xiangzhou. His renowned series “Celestial Tales” is collected by Elon Musk, Yahoo! founder Jerry Yang, and esteemed art institutions, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Harvard University Sackler Museum, and Seattle Art Museum. Moreover, he is the first living artist from Asia whose works were acquired by the Asian Art Department of the Art Institute of Chicago in its more than 140 year history.

The exhibition titled “River Map - Tai Xiangzhou Solo Exhibition” will present his latest series of works, “Kunlun” and “Galaxy”, which are based on the themes of water, the universe, and Taoist philosophy. The exhibition will run for four weeks from July 8th to August 5th, 2023. An opening panel discussion will be held on July 8th (Saturday) at 4:00 PM, where the artist will share insights into the creative process behind the exhibited works as well as his exploration of Chinese ink painting concepts and structures over the years. We cordially invite everyone to attend this event.

Tai Xiangzhou's works are like extraterrestrial meteorites in the universe of art that demonstrate his unparalleled craftsmanship and unique style. His works possess a deep cultural heritage rooted in traditional Chinese ink painting, while simultaneously breaking free from the confines of traditional compositional frameworks. Integrating years of observation and research in astronomy and physics, he transforms the diverse appearance of meteorites, changing states of matter, and shifts of celestial bodies into majestic and vibrant aesthetic structures. Through this, he pioneers a fresh perspective in Chinese ink painting, capturing the spirit of the era with a vast cosmic vision. His art has attracted significant attention and recognition in both Eastern and Western art circles.         

Tai Xiangzhou was born in 1968 to a scholarly family in Yinchuan. He began his artistic journey at a young age and studied calligraphy with calligraphers Hu Gongshi and Wang Wenjun. Later, he became a disciple of historian Feng Qiyong, delving into the study of classical Chinese literature and gradually accumulating a profound knowledge of Chinese culture. Before pursuing further studies in New Zealand, he received instruction in ancient painting and calligraphy mounting and restoration from Li Zhenjiang and Cui Yurun. This allowed him to acquire traditional mounting techniques and develop a discerning eye for appreciation. Through these hands-on experiences with ancient paintings and historical materials, he gained a deeper understanding of the materials and painting methods employed in Song Dynasty landscape painting. He particularly admired the layering of ink on raw silk in Song paintings, which created a subtle and elegant atmosphere. Therefore, his choice of materials, such as ancient ink, raw silk, and customized paper, all inherit the traditions of classical landscape paintings.

While studying digital media at Auckland Media Design School, he had the opportunity to work on the production of the background scenes for "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." His role involved using computer technology to layer the visuals and constantly adjusting the scenes through discussions with the director and post-production team. This experience had a profound impact on Tai Xiangzhou's future artistic creations, imbuing each of his works with meticulously designed moments captured in a continuous dynamic frame. To pursue conceptual breakthroughs in art creation, he entered the Painting Department of Tsinghua University's Academy of Fine Arts in 2006 to pursue a Ph.D. degree. During his studies, he was enlightened by the astronomer Yi Shitong, who prompted him to reexamine the cosmological perspectives and spiritual context of Chinese landscape painting from an astronomical perspective. Within this theme, he completed his doctoral dissertation, titled "Observations of Astronomical Phenomena—the Concept of. Landscape Painting and its Structure," which garnered acclaim from renowned art historian Fang Wen.

Rooted in extensive and profound studies of art history, Tai Xiangzhou has developed a groundbreaking language of painting. His most representative series, Celestial Tales, subverts the traditional structural framework of ink painting, breaking free from the visual rules of "near, distant, and deep." Within a tranquil and chaotic realm resembling the aggregation and evolution of primordial cosmic matter, the series immerses viewers in a sensory experience with floating, rugged rocks and vast clouds, transporting them into the future landscapes he creates. The highlight of this exhibition is the most enormous triptych titled Parallel Universes VI: Dou Su, Jian Xing, Tian Bian, which expands upon the concept of Celestial Tales and incorporates elements of time and space. The three interconnected panels can be viewed both independently and in relation to each other. The composition lacks the clearly defined attributes of light, weight, viewpoint, or direction, instead presenting the concept of "phase transition" in physics through swirling clouds surrounding the meteorites. It signifies the perpetual and ever-changing universal laws of energy in the cosmos, regardless of the time or space, reflecting the state of existence and worldview described in Laozi's Tao Te Ching as "formless form" and "imageless image.”

The new series in this exhibition, Kunlun and Galaxy, both revolve around the natural philosophy of Pre-qin Daoist philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi. Combined with contemporary scientific knowledge of physics and astronomy, they contemplate the vast cosmos, ancient mythology, natural landscapes, and the spiritual universe. In terms of composition, Tai Xiangzhou reduces the sense of weight of the meteorites within the paintings, focusing more on the depiction of air and water. Using raw silk as the base, he layers ink and water to create a gradual tonal effect. Amidst the interplay of ink's black and white tones, he not only displays the misty and ethereal ambiance of Song dynasty landscapes but also incorporates dry brushstrokes in the abstract ink layering, showcasing his profound calligraphic strength. In the gravity-free space depicted in "Kunlun," one can observe leaping dragons, wing-flapping divine horses, the celestial realm of Taiyi riding dragons, and the enchanting aura of the heavenly palace—this is the artist's envisioned world. On the other hand, the "Galaxy" series portrays various forms of water, rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls, and evaporating clouds and mist, all expertly rendered through ink techniques. The myriad forms of water stem from its non-contention and its innate capacity for vast inclusiveness, making it both gentle and powerful. As stated in the Tao Te Ching: "The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world." Water embodies the intangible "Tao." Tai Xiangzhou's artistic creation encompasses both breadth and subtlety, establishing a new paradigm for contemporary ink painting. Undoubtedly, his works embody a profound zeitgeist and exhibit an influential artistic power.