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Sun Ten Museum Farewell Exhibition: Drama & Exhibit-The Hidden National Treasure in Southern California is Going Back Home

  • Date:2019-06-01

The Sun Ten Museum, which has collected artworks from Taiwan for nearly a century, will donate a batch of about 600 paintings back to Taiwan in June and July 2019, to assist the Ministry of Culture in the reconstruction of Taiwan's art history. To provide the public in Southern California a final chance to view this batch of Taiwan art treasures, Sun Ten Museum collaborated with Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles to hold the farewell exhibition, Drama & Exhibit, before it returns home. The exhibition will be on view between June 2 and June 19, 2019, with a series of Taiwan art sessions being held by partners such as Bowers Museum and Taiwan Center Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. We welcome everyone to view the exhibition and enjoy Taiwan art story behind these national treasures.

Located in Irvine, Sun Ten Museum was founded in 1993 by Hsu Ring-lin, wife of Sun Ten Pharmaceuticals founder Dr. Hsu Hong-yen. Dr. Hsu is known as the creator of scientific Chinese medicine in Taiwan. The museum’s collection consists of the Hsu family’s art collection ranging from the Japanese colonial era to the modern day. Dr. Hsu once told his eldest son, Charles Hsu that "These paintings are not mine, they are the property of the Taiwanese people. They should be collected in one place instead of scattered around the world. One day, I want the entire collection to return home, to return to Taiwan." To realize Dr. Hsu’s wish, in September 2018, Sun Ten officially signed a letter of intent with Minister of Culture to donate the entire collection to Ministry of Culture of Taiwan, and the collection will be handed over to National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts for future collection and maintenance. The Sun Ten collection covers artists from a wide range of period, from preeminent artists of the Japanese colonial era, such as Tan Ting-pho, Liao Chi-chun, Li Mei-shu, Kuo Hsueh-hu, Li Shih-chiao, and Yen Shui-long, to artists who are significant contributors to the development of post-war Taiwanese art, such as Lu Zhi-zheng, Chang Yi-hsiung, Hung Jui-ling, Liao Shiou-ping, Hsiao Ju-sung, and Chen Cheng-hsiung. The range also extends to artists who grew up and honed their craft in Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War, such as Chen Ting-shih, Chin Sung, Shiy De-jinn, and Shen Yaochu, as well as younger generation artists who spent time studying in the US in the 70s and 80s, like Ava Hsueh, Mei Dean-e, Hsu Tzu-kuey, Jun T. Lai, and Huang Ming-che, all of whom remain active and important in Taiwan’s art scene today

Before the return of these national treasures, Sun Ten Museum curated the exhibition Drama and Exhibit as a farewell to the local community. The opening reception for the exhibition begins at 2:30 PM on June 2 and is open to the public. Visits between June 3 and June 19 are by appointments only. In addition to the exhibition, there are also many art sessions. Welcome to enjoy the beauty of Taiwanese art!

Love Songs of Mountain and Sea: The Story of Taiwanese Art

Speakers: Art historian Prof. Chong-ray Hsiao, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Conducted in Mandarin, free admission

Time: Thursday May 30, 2019, 13:30-15:00

Location: Culture Center of TECO in Los Angeles (9443 Telstar Ave, El Monte, CA 91731

Highlights of Modern Taiwanese Art: A Focused Look

Speakers: Chong-ray Hsiao and Chip Tom

Conducted in English, free admission (Museum admission not included)

Time: Saturday June 1, 2019, 13:30-15:00
Location: Bowers Museum (2002 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706)


Story of Sun Ten Collection + Taiwanese artist documentary screening

Speakers: Kobi Chen, Director of Sun Ten Museum

Conducted in Mandarin, free admission

Time: Saturday June 8, 2019, 13:30-15:00

Location: Taiwan Center Foundation of Greater Los Angeles(3001 Walnut Grove Ave, Rosemead, CA 91770) 

SUN TEN MUSEUM VISIT APPOINTMENT

(949)-232-7680