SanLang YANG

1929: Graduated from the Kansai Art Institute in Kyoto. At the age of 17, Taiwan’s oil painting master Yang Sanlang secretly left his family and boarded a boat to Japan, planning to work and study painting simultaneously. This marked the beginning of his lifelong dedication to painting. He studied in Japan for a total of seven years. His works were repeatedly selected for the “Tai Exhibition” in Taiwan and Japan’s “Shunyang Exhibition,” which established an inseparable bond with the Taiwanese art movement. Later, he went to France for further studies and again received recognition from both the Shunyang Exhibition and the Tai Exhibition, cementing his position in Taiwan’s art scene. Artistic Evolution and Style Yang Sanlang transitioned from depicting natural realism (associated with the “Gaiguangpai”) to expressing natural emotion in a Post-Impressionist style—a technique he developed after studying in France and maintained consistently for the next sixty years. Subjects: He primarily focused on landscapes, with still lifes and figures as secondary themes. Technique: He loved portraying mountains and nature, employing vivid, ever-changing colors imbued with a strong French Impressionist sensibility. He placed great emphasis on texture in his paintings, and by combining this with Gaiguangpai techniques, his works emit a brilliant, sunlit quality. Legacy: Yang Sanlang once said, “Every work by an artist should possess its own soul.” In the last few years of his life, he began planning the establishment of an art museum. In 1991, the Yang Sanlang Art Museum opened in his hometown of Yonghe, marking Taiwan’s first private art museum. He hoped to democratize art and firmly plant the cultural roots of art within Taiwan. His lofty artistic ideals have established him as an immortal national treasure. His lifelong achievements represent not only personal success but also the inheritance and documentation of the entire Taiwanese art movement. Biographical Highlights 1907: Born in Wǎngxī, Taipei (today’s Yonghe, Taipei). 1929: Graduated from the Kansai Art Institute. 1934: Founded the “Taiyang Art Association.” 1974: Established the “Oil Painting Society of the Republic of China.” 1976: Served as the first chairman of the Oil Painting Society of the Republic of China. 1991: The Yang Sanlang Art Museum was inaugurated. 1995: Passed away at home due to hepatitis at the age of 89. Solo Exhibitions 1928: Solo exhibition at the Museum. 1932: “Yang Sanlang’s Journey to Europe Commemorative Exhibition” held at the former Government Offices and the Taichung Public Hall. 1934: Solo exhibition of works produced during his studies in France at the Taipei Education Hall, and later at the Taichung Civic Center. 1935: Solo exhibition in Xiamen. 1937: Solo exhibition in Japan. 1938: Solo exhibition at the Osaka Art Salon Gallery. 1939: Oil painting exhibition held at the Keelung Public Hall. 1940: Solo exhibition in Guangdong. 1973: “50 Years of Painting Commemorative Exhibition” held at the Provincial Museum. 1978: Solo exhibition at the Provincial Museum. 1979: “Yang Sanlang Oil Painting Exhibition” held at the National Museum of History. 1980: “Yang Sanlang Oil Painting Solo Exhibition” held at Taiji Art Gallery. 1983: “Yang Sanlang Oil Painting Retrospective Exhibition” held at the National Museum of History. 1985: “60-Year Retrospective Exhibition of Yang Sanlang” held at Xiongshi Gallery, exhibiting 45 works. 1986: Solo exhibition at the Tainan Cultural Center; also a solo exhibition at Xiongshi Gallery celebrating his 80th birthday. 1987: Solo exhibition at Gaoge Gallery. 1988: “Yang Sanlang Masterpieces Exhibition” at Gaoge Gallery. 1989: Solo exhibitions held at Gaoge Gallery in Taichung and at Gaoge Gallery in Taipei; “Yang Sanlang Retrospective Exhibition” at the Taipei City Gallery of Arts.