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Indepth Arts News:
"Chang Dai-chien: Master of the Three Perfections"
2000-11-30 until 2001-01-28
Vancouver Art Gallery
Vancouver, BC,
CA Canada
Chang Dai-chien (1899-1983) is regarded as the one of the most versatile, prolific and well-traveled
masters in the history of Chinese painting. He is particularly noted for linking traditional historical brush
and ink works with modern western art.
This man of extremes fled from mainland China to Taiwan during the communist takeover, where he
revived the elite literati tradition practiced by scholars of ancient dynasties. The style, which combines
painting, calligraphy and poetry (the three perfections), is stunningly evident in this exhibition of more
than 60 works, curated by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria's renowned curator of Asian art, Barry Till.
The Artist
Chang Dai-chien lived a colourful life and is known for his skill at imitating the work of historical Chinese
artists. Chang Dai-chien's emulation of the work of historical Chinese artists reveals a mastery of
painting techniques which he then deployed in his own milieu.
Chang Dai-chien did not appear to regard stylistic innovations as historically determined. Rather, he
considered Chinese art history as providing a toolbox of techniques from which he freely borrowed.
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