SUNSET ON RUEI BIN SEASHORE

“Taipei is empty without you”. This is the sentiment described by poet Yu Guangzhong upon Shiy De-jinn’s passing. In 1981, the brilliant painter had entered the final year of his life. He once praised Zhang Da-qian as the world’s most renowned painter of lotus flower, and expressed regret that he did not have one of Zhang’s lotus paintings in his collection. In June 1981, friends from Shiy De-jinn’s art circle held a special exhibition for his 60th birthday. Zhang Da-qian specifically selected three works from Shiy De-jinn’s collection for purchase, but Shiy De-jinn had stopped selling his paintings at this time. Instead, the two artists finally commemorated each other through the exchange of paintings. Zhang chose one of his lotus paintings, and Shiy decided on “Ruei Bin Seashore” in return. Shiy felt it was his best work in recent years. The meeting between the two artists holds a unique meaning and significance.

Dawn and dusk were Shiy De-jinn’s favorite time to paint. In these hours, the hillside is richly layered. The rhythm of mountains and the fullness of clouds are most easily revealed through a thick dense mist. The three pieces from the “Ruei Bin Seashore” collection were painted at three different angles along Taiwan’s northeast coast in the early morning, day, and evening. They currently reside in the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Chang Dai-ch’ien Residence, and a private collection. The privately owned “Ruei Bin Seashore” was painted by Shiy De-jinn during sunset at the northeastern corner of Taiwan. A streak of golden glow spreads out from the distant horizon and casts a reflection on multiple layers of blueshaded mountains, depicting a timeless Taiwanese landscape.