One of artist Max Liu's (
Liu became something of a legendary public figure in the 1970s, when he ventured into the wilderness of Africa, Central and South America and the islands of Southeast Asia to study indigenous cultures. Travel abroad at that time was restricted and most Taiwanese had little awareness of the world beyond their borders, much less cultures in far-off places like Africa.
Liu spent a large part of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s traveling to these parts of the world, learning about the cultures he visited and studying their art, and at the same time gathering inspiration for his own works.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPITAL ART CENTER
At the opening of his exhibition at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Liu, 89, was still the jovial old man that people remember from when he first grabbed headlines. He still wears his khaki explorer's suit, complete with a canvas hat, lugs a large backpack and often has a pipe hanging out the side of his mouth.
Liu was last in the spotlight in April, when he launched a new book about his son Nelson Liu (
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPITAL ART CENTER
The urge for adventure has evidently rubbed off on his children. Many remember a quote of Liu's from decades ago: "Some people do not like owls, thinking of them as spooky, but I don't care. I love owls. They are a revelation to me -- they leave their nests before they learn to fly."
Man of all trades
With his quick wit and easy-going personality, people often overlook the depth of this man's career. Liu is a painter, explorer, anthropologist, translator, environmentalist and college professor, all of which are fields in which he taught himself after leaving his initial career as an engineer. Liu opened his first solo exhibition in 1979 and since then, has exhibited around Asia and the US. He has authored and translated more than 30 books, mostly on watercolor painting and studies of indigenous cultures.
Liu's life has been a series of relocations and adventures. He was born in Guangzhou, China in 1912, the year the ROC was founded, and moved to Japan at the age of 9 with his family to escape creditors after his father's tea business collapsed. He spent his adolescent life in Japan until he finished an engineering degree. Following the end of World War II he returned to China to teach at a university in Guangzhou.
At 34, he came to Taiwan to work as an engineer, but soon became disillusioned with his career. He started to find a new direction in art, though he only considered drawing a pastime that he could follow during retirement. Becoming a professional artist was not an ambition he seriously considered. Five years later, though, one of his paintings of a Confucian temple won an award in a national art competition, providing the boost to his morale that moved him toward art as a new career.
Art would have to wait, however, when, in 1965, Liu took a job in Vietnam, where he stayed for three years, working as an engineer for the US forces there. At the same time he collected artifacts and did sketches in the field, which helped arouse his interest in indigenous cultures.
Following his time in Vietnam, Liu spent the next decade painting and teaching and continued to travel to places such as the Philippines, Northeast Asia, and Central and South America.
At the close of the 1970s, Liu had his first exhibition, which drew attention for his humorous and naive images reminiscent of the works of Paul Klee, whom the artist cites as a major influence. Liu's most famous work is his 1994 painting Evening Call (
In the 1980s, Liu continued his travels, this time to Borneo and then to South Africa to study the life and behavior of wild animals. He would later travel through East Africa, gathering material for his African Animal Series, which he completed in 1999.
Older and wiser
Polite and modest as he is today, Liu describes himself as a rascal before the age of 50. He said he now feels like a Buddha, with a soft heart full of kindness.
Speaking at the opening of his Tri-Service General Hospital exhibition, he recalled his life of adventure and introduction to art: "I was a hunter once, and I was in wars. Killing was a common thing and life had no dignity. I did not know at that time what it means to say that all humans were born with compassion until I was far away from the war. When I calmed down and received love from others I came to understand. Love is acquired through learning. Now I am an animal rights promoter and get angry every time I see animals locked in a cage. Just imagine that I was a hunter before!"
"Love is the source of creation, and the highest quality of art is not to be beautiful but to be able to present love and a sincere respect and love for life."
Max Liu is currently exhibiting at two venues in Taipei
What: Liu Chih-wei and his Splendid Life (
When: Until Aug. 10
Where: Main Entrance Lobby, Tri-Service General Hospital (
For information, call the Capital Art Center at 2736-1288.
What: Max Liu: 1980 - 1990 (
When: Until Sept. 1
Where: Lungmen Art Gallery (
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