"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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