The Past and Future of Taiwanese Art：A Look Back over the Past 100 Years

Abstract

From the Japanese colonial period to the present, the question, “What is Taiwanese art?” has been asked over and over again, and a clear answer has yet to be found. This is not only a search for identity but is also rooted in the pain of Taiwan’s history, as artists address the shifting national borders and the nation state of Taiwan. In the past few years, several important exhibitions of Taiwanese art have been held. The study of Taiwanese art history, which had been a rather minor academic field, has gradually gained momentum. Today, many art historians are attempting to depict Taiwan from the perspective of the island and the many ethnic groups and foreigners who reside there. Furthermore, since many Taiwanese artists and scholars have studied and researched in Japan for over a century now, the study of Taiwanese art history will hopefully develop more actively not only in Taiwan but also in Japan.