Estate of Liu Sheng-rong

Liu Sheng-Rong (1928–1985) was a pioneer of post-war Chinese abstract art and a key figure in Asian modernism. Born in Tainan, he was influenced by his uncle, the painter Liu Chi-hsiang, from an early age, later fully committed to art after dental school.

In 1952, he co-founded the Kaohsiung Fine Arts Research Association and joined the Tainan Fine Arts Research Association. Moving to Japan in the early 1960s, he gained swift acclaim for his Eastern folk-inspired abstraction. His breakthrough 1966 solo exhibition at Paul Gallery in Tokyo led to the acquisition of his masterwork Dusk by the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Settling in Japan in 1968, Liu was active in the Free Artists Association, Nika Association, and Tokyo-ha Group. His inclusion in major international showcases, including the 3rd Paris Biennale (1963) and the São Paulo Art Biennials (1963, 1967), secured his standing in the global avant-garde.

Liu’s early works featured dense impasto, rich red-black-gold tones, and rhythmic brushwork. From the 1970s, he integrated traditional joss paper into hard-edge compositions and applied scorching techniques to evoke ritual solemnity, effectively transforming Eastern philosophy into striking modern form.

In March 2027, the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art will present a major retrospective of Liu Sheng-Rong. Other prominent retrospectives include Liu Sheng-rong: A Retrospective at Taipei Fine Arts Museum (1997) and an academic research exhibition, Andante: Research Exhibition of Liu Sheng-rong at Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (2023). His work is held in the permanent collections of numerous international public institutions and museums, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; the Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama; the Museum of Modern Art Kamakura Annex; Benesse House Museum; Nagaoka Museum of Modern Art; National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts; National Museum of History; Taipei Fine Arts Museum; Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts; and Tainan Museum of Fine Arts.