Huang Tu-Shui

TAIWAN, Taipei

Huang Tu-Shui was a sculptor who was influenced by the Buddhist implements and items he observed in temples when he was young. He studied at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts beginning in 1915, and took courses under the instruction of Takamura Koun, who was the leader of the Japanese Carving Association. Huang later traveled to France with Takamura’s son, Takamura Kotaro. Kotaro was strongly influenced by the sculptural style of Auguste Rodin, and Huang’s connection with Kotaro allowed him access to knowledge of realist art from Europe.
His clay sculpture, Mountain Child, was selected for display in the Empire Exhibition in Japan in 1920, making Huang the first person from Taiwan to have artworks exhibited in the exhibition. Starting in 1924, he began sculpting the statues of important officials, nobles, and celebrities, and in 1927, he created an sculpture of Ascetic Sakyamuni for Longshan Temple in Taipei. The image was sculpted in western-style and exhibits local Taiwanese and human-like features.
Huang later settled in Tokyo, Japan. After his passing, an exhibition was held in Taipei in commemoration, displaying over 80 of his works. In addition, the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts launched a Centenary Memorial Exhibition in honor of Huang in 1995.