Three cross-generational art giants pass down memories of home and creation

In the history of Taiwanese art, three cross-generational creative giants—Liao Hsiu-ping, Wu Hsuan-san, and Chen Cheng-hsiung—have all left profound cultural imprints on the nation with their unique artistic languages and life experiences. Recently, the "Spreading Fragrance in the Art Sea" ethnographic video project, organized by the National Hsinchu Living Arts Center, officially released documentaries and related publications focusing on these three artists, bringing their creative journeys and life stories—anchored around the concept of "home"—back into the public eye through imagery and text. This initiative is not only a tribute to the personal experiences of the three artists, but also an important complement to Taiwan's artistic heritage and cultural memory.

Liao Hsiu-ping, born in 1939, has long focused on "space" and "light and shadow" as the core of his creative work. His pieces primarily encompass oil paintings, sculptures, and installations, presenting a visual language of deep philosophical and humanistic care. Since stepping into the National Taipei College of Arts (later the Department of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University) in the late 1950s, Liao has pioneered the diverse facets of modern Taiwanese art through his fusion of Eastern and Western art genres. His representative work, *River of Light*, explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature through the interaction of light and water, becoming a significant piece in international exhibitions. The documentary focuses on Liao's upbringing in his hometown, revealing how he learned traditional painting techniques from a young age and gradually stepped onto the international stage with the support and encouragement of his family. The film not only presents Liao's creative process, but also recreates his perceptions of the subtle relationship between "home" and "creation" through interviews and family photographs.

Wu Hsuan-san, born in 1929, has long used stone sculpture as his primary creative medium. His works present profound reflections on life and time through the contrast between "hardness" and "softness." Wu studied at the Taipei Academy of Fine Arts in his early years, and later, influenced by the stone-carving craftsmanship of the Japanese colonial period, began using stone as his main material. In the late 1950s, he held a solo exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, receiving high praise from domestic and international critics. His representative work, *Song of Stone*, employs massive stone sculpture to present the relationship between humans and nature in a three-dimensional language, becoming an important milestone in Taiwanese stone-carving art. The documentary focuses on Wu's family background, exploring how he seeks a balance between family tradition and personal creation. The film not only displays Wu's daily routine in his stone-carving workshop, but also presents his interactions between family care and creative passion through the memories of family members, further revealing the emotions and philosophy behind his work.

Chen Cheng-hsiung, born in 1935, has long based his creative work on folk songs and traditional music, combining them with modern musical elements to create a distinctive musical style. Chen studied at a music academy in Taipei in the early 1950s and served as a professor at the Taipei Municipal Academy of Music in the early 1960s, nurturing many up-and-coming musicians. His representative work, *Mountain Song*, conveys the lives and emotions of people in Taiwan's mountainous areas through simple melodies and affectionate lyrics, becoming a widely sung folk song both domestically and internationally. The documentary focuses on Chen's upbringing in his hometown, exploring how he finds inspiration between family heritage and personal creation. The film not only presents Chen's musical creation process, but also reflects his interactions between family care and musical passion through the memories of family members, further revealing the emotions and philosophy behind his work.

The mission of the "Spreading Fragrance in the Art Sea" ethnographic video project is precisely to preserve and disseminate Taiwan's diverse culture and artistic heritage in the form of video and text. This project not only focuses on the creations and lives of individual artists, but also explores the social, cultural, and political environments they faced under different historical backgrounds from an "ethnographic" perspective. Through the combination of documentaries and publications, audiences are able to understand the creative journeys and worldviews of these three artists from a multi-faceted and comprehensive perspective. More importantly, this project provides precious first-hand materials for Taiwan's art history, offering valuable references for subsequent research and education.

Against the backdrop of rapid changes in Taiwanese society, many master artists over the age of eighty are facing retirement or passing away. Through the "Spreading Fragrance in the Art Sea" video project, the National Hsinchu Living Arts Center has not only provided a platform for these artists to be "re-presented" and "passed down," but has also offered opportunities for learning and inspiration for the younger generation of creators and audiences. Through the interviews and artwork displays in the films, audiences can deeply experience the close connection among family, society, and creation by the artists, thereby understanding the cultural context and humanistic care behind artistic creation. This cross-generational dialogue not only helps preserve Taiwan's cultural memory, but also inspires new directions and inspirations for future artistic creation.

In summary, the documentaries and publications on Liao Hsiu-ping, Wu Hsuan-san, and Chen Cheng-hsiung are not only a review of the personal experiences of the three artists, but also an important supplement to Taiwan's artistic heritage and cultural memory. Through the "Spreading Fragrance in the Art Sea" ethnographic video project, we are able to re-examine and cherish the creations and lives of these cross-generational artistic giants from multiple levels including family, society, and creation. In the future, as more artists join this project, Taiwan's cultural treasury will become even richer.