Draft:Liu Xin-Lu

Liu Xin-Lu (1906-1984) was born in Chiayi, Taiwan. He pursued advanced training at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts in 1929, making him one of the few Taiwanese students who learned art in Shanghai when Taiwan was under Japanese rule.

Life

Early Experience

Liu Xin-Lu was born in Tamio-shō, Kagi-chō (now Minxiong Township, Chiayi County) on 2 April 1906. His father Liu Ting-Hui, as a member of the local gentry, was once the chief of Tamio-shō. Liu Xin-Lu met Chen Cheng-Po when he was a counselor at Tamio Public School (now Minxiong Elementary School) after graduating from Tainan Normal School in 1926. In 1929, Liu pursued advanced training at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts where he was nurtured by painters who studied in Europe such as Lin Feng-Mian, Fang Gan-Min, and Liu Hai-Su. After graduation, Liu Xin-Lu continued his graduate study at the same academy. He worked as a teaching assistant at the academy in 1932. In this period, Liu often went to Suzhou and Hangzhou with Chen Cheng-Po for sketching, leaving behind many works with similar compositions. In 1934, Liu traveled to Japan and learned painting skills from Japanese painters such as Takahashi Seisaburo, Uenoyama Kiotsugu, and others. In 1935, Liu won the Merit Prize of the first Taiyang Art Exhibition with his work Tide of the Qiantang River. He continued to participate in the exhibition until the 4th edition, all with good results. After returning to Taiwan from Japan in 1940, Liu Xin-Lu co-founded the Qingchen Fine Arts Association with Wong Kun-De, Wong Kun-Hui, Chang Yi-Hsiung, Lin Rong-Jie, and Anzai Kanichi. Its artistic activities span across China, Japan, and Taiwan. Liu returned to Taiwan from China in 1946.

The February 28 Massacre and Its Aftermath

After witnessing his close friend Chen Cheng-Po’s execution by firing squad during the February 28 Massacre in 1947, Liu Xin-Lu was so traumatized that he stopped creating for a while. Later, Liu served as the head of Civil Affairs Division, Chiayi District Office, Tainan County Government and the head of Compulsory Education Unit, Education Division, Chiayi County Government. He also served as a part-time art teacher at Chiayi Teachers’ College and the acting principal of Chiayi County Xingang Middle School where he promoted arts education. In 1966, Liu retired due to eye disease. After his retirement, Liu worked as a guest art teacher at Minxiong Senior High School and set up the “Green Shade Atelier” and the “Min-Xin Bookstore.” Meanwhile, he cultivated orchids and participated in the Chiayi Orchid Exhibition. He had resided in the U.S. for many times since 1972. He returned to Taiwan in 1979 to seek medical treatment for a recurrence of eye disease, and died in 1984.

Style

Sketches from landscape and family portraits are the staple of Liu Xin-Lu’s oeuvre. Wang Jin-Ding argues that Liu’s works are characterized by steady, understated brushstrokes and heartwarming compositions. They faithfully represent the lives of common people who wear natural, delightful expression.