Li Mei-shu

Li Mei-shu (Chinese: 李梅樹; pinyin: Li Méishù) (13 March 1902 – 6 February 1983) was a Taiwanese painter, sculptor, and politician. Born to an upper-class family in Sankakuyū (Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Saⁿ-kak-éng), Japanese Taiwan (modern-day Sanxia District, New Taipei City).

Li Mei-shu
李梅樹
Born(1902-03-13)13 March 1902
Sankakuyū, Tōshien Chō, Japanese Taiwan (modern-day Sanxia District, New Taipei, Taiwan)
Died6 February 1983(1983-02-06) (aged 80)
Taipei
Resting placeSanxia District
NationalityTaiwanese
EducationTaiwan Governor-General's National Language School, Tokyo School of Fine Arts
Alma materTokyo School of Fine Arts
Known forCo-Founder of Tai-Yang Art Society 臺陽美術協會, Organizer of Re-construction committee of Qingshui Zushi (Divine Ancestor) Temple
Notable work
Washing clothes by the clear stream 新溪浣衣, Spring Dawn at Sanxia
MovementRealism
Awards
  • Still Life and Backstreets of Sanxia were selected for the 1st and 2nd Taiwan Art Exhibitions (Taiten) in 1927.
  • Girl at Rest included in the 9th Taiwan Art Exhibition as a special selection; recipient of the Taiwan Art Exhibition Award.
Memorial(s)Li Mei-shu Memorial Gallery
Li Mei-shu
Traditional Chinese李梅樹

Education

Li Meishu began to demonstrate a propensity for painting in his early years. In 1918, he was accepted into the Painting Division of the Taiwan Governor-General's National Language School. He taught himself painting after school through a copy of A Collection of Lectures, which he ordered from Japan through post. Upon graduating, he taught at Zuihō Public School (in modern-day Ruifang District). During this time, he participated in the Summer Art Seminar organized by Ishikawa Kinichiro. His works 'Still Life and Backstreets of Sanxia' were selected for the first and second Taiwan Art Exhibitions (Taiten), respectively.

He then obtained his family’s consent to go to Japan to further his painting studies. In 1929, he was accepted by the Division of Western Painting at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, where he studied with teachers such as Okada Saburousuke and Kobayashi Mango.

Work and public life

After graduating in 1934, Li returned to Taiwan and co-founded the Tai-Yang Art Society along with artists such as Liao Chi-chun, Tan Ting-pho, and Yen Shui-long. In 1935, his work Girl at Rest was the special selection of the ninth Taiwan Art Exhibition. In 1939, his work Red Dress was selected for the third Ministry of Education Art Exhibition (Shin Bunten).

After World War II, Li served several terms as chairman of Sanxia street, township representative, and county councilor. From 1945, he served as director of the re-construction committee of Qingshui Zushi (Divine Ancestor) Temple in Sanxia.[1] He invited his friends in the art community, such as Chen Jin, Lin Yushan, Guo Xuehu, to complete the stone walls and sculptures of Zushi Temple together, making Zushi Temple a collective work of the artists.

In 1962, he devoted himself to the promotion of art education by teaching in the art departments of schools such as Chinese Culture University, National Taiwan University of Arts, and National Taiwan Normal University.

A sculptural work by Li Meishu on Zushi Temple in Sanxia

Painting style
Li Mei-shu Memorial Gallery

The subjects of Li's paintings are depicted in a realist style and are primarily figures, landscapes, and still lifes. Even in the 1950s, when abstract art styles were in favor, his paintings still remained true to realism. Li’s paintings demonstrated strong local sentiments and his love for portraying local people and culture. His great love for Sanxia has produced scenic paintings of Sanxia such as Spring Dawn at Sanxia (1977) and Washing Clothes in the River (1981). He also loved to use his family members as models for his paintings and used photographs to provide an outline or base for his work. Li emphasized the characteristics of the people he was painting through details such as the patterns of their clothing and subject’s relationship with the background.

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See also

References
  1. Han Cheung (27 March 2016). "Taiwan in Time: Six degrees of Lee Mei-shu". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
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