Works
Liu Kuo-sung (Liu Guosong), respected as the Father of Modern Ink Painting by the art worlds of Taiwan and China, has passionately promoted modern ink painting with a religious zeal. Liu Kuo-sung’s faith is art, and modern ink paintings are his scripture. Over the last sixty years, Liu has journeyed around the world in art exhibitions and academic seminars, bringing his scripture wherever he went, in the true spirit of a missionary.
Exhibitions
To the Moon
Liu Kuo-sung
Dec 21, 2019 – May 31, 2020
Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting III
Liu Kuo-sung
Feb 18 – April 15, 2017
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting II
Liu Kuo-sung
Nov 21, 2015 – Feb 16, 2016
The Missionary of Modern Ink Painting
Liu Kuo-sung
Teacher & Students Group Exhibition
Jan 31 – Feb 28, 2015
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting I
Liu Kuo-sung
Oct 25, 2014 – Jan 24, 2015
Surrounding Mountains, Towering Peak
Liu Kuo-sung
Oct 5 – Dec 1, 2013
Journal
Icy Tree with Silver Branches
Catalog Entry
What Liu Kuo-sung’s Icy Tree with Silver Branches Conveys Is Perseverance
Set against an icy outcrop, clusters of snow-clad branches dominate the painting. Despite the weight of winter snow, the branches remain upright and shoot toward the sky, patiently waiting for the arrival of spring.
Liu Kuo-sung, Icy Tree with Silver Branches, 2009 © The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
Mountain Light Blown Into Wrinkles
Catalog Entry
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting II
Starting in 1977, Liu Kuo-sung spent nearly a decade exploring and perfecting his technique of “Water-rubbing.” This dedication illustrates Liu’s “revolution against the brush,” and the notion that great painting can be created with or without the brush. Mountain Light blown into Wrinkles is a representative work from this inspiring period of experimentation and creativity.
Liu Kuo-sung, Mountain Light blown into Wrinkles, 1985 © The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
Spring of Old Banyan
Catalog Entry
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting II
This painting is a representative work of Liu Kuo-sung’s “Ink-staining” technique. Liu began experimenting with technique in the 1980s; utilizing the seeping quality of ink, he rid the image of preconceived brushstrokes, in search of a more natural and spontaneous effect.
Liu Kuo-sung, Spring of Old Banyan, 1993 © The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
Floating Mountain Peak
Catalog Entry
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting II
Floating Mountain Peak is a major work of Liu Kuo-sung’s “Water-rubbing” technique. “Water-rubbing” is an important component to Liu’s “revolution against the brush,” and a total rejection of the dominance of refined brushwork in traditional Chinese painting.
Liu Kuo-sung, Floating Mountain Peak, 1976 © The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
Mid-Autumn Festival
Catalog Entry
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting II
Of Liu Kuo-sung’s abstract paintings, those with Chinese holidays as the subject matter express a very traditional sentiment. Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the Chinese people’s poetic fascination with the moon, extending a literary tradition thousands of years old.
Liu Kuo-sung, Mid-Autumn Festival, 1969 © The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
Purple Sun
Catalog Entry
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting II
Liu Kuo-sung once said “although my composition is essentially a circle and an arc, the colors, technique, and texture are greatly different.” Purple Sun is a prime example of a painting from the Space Series, composed of an upper circle and lower arc, in which the colors, technique, and texture are remarkable and visually stunning.
Liu Kuo-sung, Purple Sun, 1970 © The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
News
2023 Hengshan Calligraphy Biennial
Museum Exhibition
Liu Kuo-sung
ERA OF PRINCIPLE AND NO PRINCIPLE – Calligraphy as a Visual Form opens Jan 20, 2023 to April 24 at Hengshan Calligraphy Art Center at Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts. Curated by Wu Chao-Jen of Tunghai University’s Department of Fine Arts, the exhibition invites Taiwanese and international artists to explore calligraphy as a visual form in Contemporary art and its possible future development as a practice.
Installation View, Hengshan Calligraphy Art Center, Taoyuan. Photo: TMOFA
The Cosmos of Liu Kuo-sung – National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
Museum Exhibition
Liu Kuo-sung
The Comos of Liu Kuo-sung – Multi-media Interactive Exhibition is now on view at National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung and runs through Nov. 27. The interactive digital installation is inspired by the Museum’s comprehensive collection of the Father of Modern Ink’s artworks.
Installation View, National Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung. Photo: NTMOFA
Paving the Road to Contemporary Ink – Dechun Gallery
Museum Exhibition
Liu Kuo-sung
In celebration of Liu Kuo-sung’s 90th birthday, National Taiwan Normal University and The Liu Kuo-sung Archives presents Paving the Road to Contemporary Ink – Liu Kuo-sung Archives Exhibition 1940s – 1980s. Showcasing important letters, documents, and photographs from Liu’s extensive career of over seventy years, the exhibition runs from April 16 to May 11, 2022 at NTNU’s Dechun Gallery.
Liu Kuo-sung, Self-Portrait, 1951 © The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
To The Moon – Gallery Talk
In Conversation
Liu Kuo-sung
On March 3 Elaine Suyu Liu, Director of Loftyart Gallery, will present a guided tour on the To The Moon – Liu Kuo-sung Exhibition in rooms 201 – 203 at the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts.
Liu Kuo-sung, Blue Moon Landscape, 1969 – 1990 © The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
The 36th National Cultural Award
Award
Liu Kuo-sung
Taiwan’s National Cultural Award ceremony was held at the Executive Yuan on 27, April, 2017. Liu Kuo-sung, artist Cheng Shan-hsi and director Tsai Ming-liang were recipients for this year.
Premier Lin Chuan and Liu Kuo-sung’s daughter, Liu Lin-hui. Photo: T. Chang
American Academy of Arts & Science Honorary Member
Honor
Liu Kuo-sung
On October 8, 2016, the Father of Modern Ink Painting, Liu Kuo-sung was induced as a foreign honorary member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Liu Kuo-sung at Harvard University, 2016. Photo: Courtesy of The Liu Kuo-sung Archives
Publications
A Man of the East, West, South, & North (Limited Edition)
Biography
The Father of Modern Ink Painting
– Liu Kuo-sung
by Richard Chang, Elaine Liu
YLib, 2019
© YLib
A Man of the East, West, South, & North
Biography
The Father of Modern Ink Painting
– Liu Kuo-sung
by Richard Chang, Elaine Liu
YLib, 2019
© YLib
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting
Catalog
Liu Kuo-sung Print Catalog Vol. III
Lofty Culture & Art, 2017
© Loftyart Gallery
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting
Catalog
Liu Kuo-sung Print Catalog Vol. II
Lofty Culture & Art, 2015
© Loftyart Gallery
The Missionary of Modern Ink Painting
Catalog
Liu Kuo-sung Teacher & Student Exhibition
Lofty Culture & Art, 2015
© Loftyart Gallery
The Scripture of a Missionary of Modern Ink Painting
Catalog
Liu Kuo-sung Print Catalog Vol. I
Lofty Culture & Art, 2014
© Loftyart Gallery