Taiwan contemporary artistic style is extremely strong with the temporal spirit and sociality. The lifting of martial law in Taiwan in 1987 is a very important turning point for the development of contemporary culture in Taiwan and it led to the development of contemporary art in Taiwan in the early 1990s to the mid 1990s. Together with this trend of development, critical political and social artistic works have fully reflected the social situation at that period.

Yang Mao-lin produced a number of works that addressed social and historical issues using his unique painting style. Major paintings and historical series of this type that Yang created during the 1990s included: "Yun Mountain Memorandum", "Lily Memorandum", "Zeelandia Memorandum", and "Tayouan Memorandum". Unlike the frank, direct criticism of his early works, these later pieces are more reflective; the way in which the works are presented gives the viewer a sense that they are reading a historical document.