Liu Kuo-sung

previous arrow
Liu Kuo-sung
Liu Kuo-sung with Mountain Light Blown into Wrinkles, 1985
Liu Kuo-sung with Wintery Mountains Covered with Snow, 1964
A Man of the East, West, South and North
next arrow
 
Liu Kuo-sung
Liu Kuo-sung with <i>Mountain Light Blown into Wrinkles</i>, 1985
Liu Kuo-sung with <i>Wintery Mountains Covered with Snow,</i> 1964
<i>A Man of the East, West, South and North</i>
previous arrow
next arrow

Works

previous arrow
Liu Kuo-sung, Snowy Ridge, Revolving Peak, 2015
Liu Kuo-sung, Icy Tree with Silver Branches, 2009
Liu Kuo-sung, Gorgeous Colors on Wuhuahai, 2012
Liu Kuo-sung, Snow Fresh, 2008
Liu Kuo-sung, Moon's Metamorphosis No. 101 (A), 2005
Liu Kuo-sung, Halo Within Halo, 1972
Liu Kuo-sung, August on the Silk Road, 1986
next arrow
 
Liu Kuo-sung,<i> Snowy Ridge, Revolving Peak,</i> 2015
Liu Kuo-sung,<i> Icy Tree with Silver Branches</i>, 2009
Liu Kuo-sung, <i>Gorgeous Colors on Wuhuahai, </i>2012
Liu Kuo-sung, <i>Snow Fresh, </i>2008
Liu Kuo-sung, <i>Moon's Metamorphosis No. 101 (A), </i>2005
Liu Kuo-sung,<i> Halo Within Halo,</i> 1972
Liu Kuo-sung, <i>August on the Silk Road,</i> 1986
previous arrow
next arrow

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.

CV

www.liukuosung.org

Exhibitions

To the Moon

Liu Kuo-sung
Dec 21, 2019 – May 31, 2020
Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts

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

See all Journal articles

News

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

See all Publications