Liao Chi-chun devoted his life to painting and education. As his name “Chi-chun,” vitality of the spring, suggests, Liao maintained his creativity even in his later years. From figurative realism to a passionate half-abstract style, Liao crossed the gap between different periods in Taiwan’s art history, being the artist who passed on heritage while opening up the future. His perception and grasp of color are sharp and extraordinary, and his work is filled with lyrical depth, which earned him the title of “the magician of color” from many art historians.

Liao’s early works mostly resembled Post-Impressionism yet with darker colors and focused on the expression of self-perception and subjective emotion. Having studied in Japan, he was also influenced by his teacher, the Fauvism master Ryuzaburo Umehara. The creation of “Lake Sisters in Ali Mountain” was under the influence of the two styles. Although the ambiance of the whole picture appears to be tranquil, the viewer can still see the artist’s ability to harness color. In the picture, Liao used various shades of green to make his mountains, rivers, and woods harmoniously intertwine with one another. His dense and soft brush strokes construct a dreamy reflection as if a thin fog was passing over the surface. The artist abandoned realism, making his lines free from figurative limitations. With flat composition and coloring, the painting was endowed with a kind of whispering, poetic tranquility. The touch of red on the pavilion and the dim pink sky hidden behind the mountains further emphasize the artist’s ingenious application of color. The alternation of red and green is not surprising but rather represents the layers of color of the entire painting.

Known for his distinctive half-figurative, half-abstract style, Liao was a widely respected artist in Taiwan. His magnificent and spontaneous use of color was highly innovative. “Lake Sisters in Ali Mountain” shows the artist’s transition between different styles: it is indeed an excellent work.