Rooted in the Land

Land is the mother of its people and the ground of artistic creation. This unit takes as its subject the distinctive geographical features of the island of Taiwan — its landscapes, terrain, and landmarks — as they appear in fine art and applied design, forming a set of visual symbols by which Taiwanese art may be clearly identified. Among these, Taiwan's highest peak, Yushan (Mt. Niitaka), along with Xueshan (Tsugitakayama, the second highest peak), Alishan, the southernmost cape of Eluanbi, and iconic scenery such as Tamsui, Guanyinshan, and Taroko Gorge — as well as the "Eight Views of Taiwan" selected by public vote, and the landmark buildings, harbors, and scenic sites developed across various cities — all became common subjects through which modern Taiwanese artists and designers gave form to the theme of being "rooted in the land." Through these distinctive landscape images, a visual subjectivity and a set of identifying symbols for Taiwanese art began to take shape.

Among the Japanese artists active in Taiwan during the colonial period, Ishikawa Kinichiro (1871–1945) painted Chihkan Tower in Tainan; Kinoshita Seigai (1887–1988) depicted Tamsui; Gobara Koto (1887–1965) rendered Taroko Gorge; and Shiotsuki Toho (1886–1954) captured Eluanbi. Taiwanese artists Lin Yu-shan (1907–2004), Kuo Hsueh-Hu (1908–2012), and Yang San-lang (1907–1995) each created depictions of Yushan. These works stand as quintessential representations of Taiwan's distinctive landscapes. Exhibited alongside their corresponding applied designs — including picture postcards and publications featuring Yushan, Alishan, and the sites designated for national parks during the period — the fine art and applied works reflect one another, together evoking the island's sweeping mountain and river scenery. Also on display are Yoshida Hatsusaburo's (1884–1955) Eight Views and Two Unique Sights and the bird's-eye view illustrations of Taiwan and other cities by Kaneko Tsunemitsu (dates unknown), alongside promotional guides and aerial maps produced by various Taiwanese cities for tourism purposes. These works represent an alternative mode of depicting Taiwan's landscapes and urban character, and together construct a distinctive set of visual symbols rooted in the land of Taiwan.