EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Power Station of Art (PSA) is honored to announce that it has recently acquired a donation of 130 significant contemporary artworks from artist Hsia Yan. The acquired works include Hsia Yan’s most important works from the 1950s to the 1990s, featuring his iconic “Fuzzy Man” series, the “Lion” series of bronze sculptures, as well as acrylic paintings, ink and color works on paper, and a selection of notes and sketches primarily from the 1960s and 1990s. In addition, Hsia Yan contributed works by his contemporaries, offering an insight into the vibrant and diverse Chinese contemporary art landscape in the latter half of the 20th century.
From January 18 to May 5, 2025, PSA will present “The Enduring Rhythm of Vitality,” a collection exhibition of works by Hsia Yan, demonstrating the artist’s articulation of a bold and uninhibited artistic expression through his lifelong dedication to art.
Born in the 1930s into a family of intellectuals, Hsia Yan was deeply influenced by Chinese culture and aesthetics, which naturally laid the foundation for his journey into painting. In 1949, he moved to Taiwan, where he co-founded the “Ton Fan Group (Eastern Painting Group),” a seminal moment for the area’s modern art movement. The group’s innovative and liberating approach transformed the creative landscape of the local art scene. Seeking a deeper understanding of the development of Western art and exploring the boundaries of his artistic practice, Hsia Yan relocated to Paris and New York during the 1960s. It was during this period that he gradually turned to the themes of existentialism and subjective experience, and began the creation of his iconic artistic motif, the “Fuzzy Man.”
In 2022, “Ding Liren and Hsia Yan: PSA 10th Anniversary Special Exhibition” showcased Hsia Yan’s representative works in various stages of his life, presenting a comprehensive and systematic view of the artist’s life experiences and his artistic quests that blend the traditional and the modern, the East and the West. Two years later, Hsia Yan decided to donate 130 works, including his own and those of his friends, to PSA. Reflecting on this decision, he remarked, “Having my works included in PSA’s collection is an ideal destination. I am deeply honored and hope my works will inspire a broader audience and stimulate creativity in more young people.”
As stated by Gong Yan, Director of PSA, “Hsia Yan’s donation is a significant contribution to the development of PSA, and it offers the public a unique lens to view and reflect on Chinese contemporary art. How to construct a distinctive visual language and narrative of one’s own? These early works provide insight into the environment that shaped and nurtured their creation, revealing the dynamic interplay between folk narratives and contemporary life. As an integral part of PSA’s collection, these works will highlight a distinctive developmental trajectory of Chinese contemporary art.”
