Fu Chuan-fu was born into a scholarly family steeped in the "fragrance of books." His father, Fu Yu (style name Shouxing), was gifted at calligraphy and seal carving, inspiring his son's interest in painting and calligraphy. Fu Chuan-fu's eldest son, Fu Li-sheng (1946-), also excelled at seal carving, and Fu Chuan-fu's wife, Fu-Si Te-fang, was good at painting plum blossoms. In fact, every Chinese New Year's eve, the couple would work together in doing art, representing one of the elegant pastimes of the family. Fu Chuan-fu's teacher, Wang Renzhi (style name Qianlou), was a Tribute Student of the Qing dynasty and active in both painting and calligraphy circles, having a profound influence on his pupil and the future teacher Fu Chuan-fu.
Fu Chuan-fu's painting studio was a space for creating art, meeting friends, and teaching pupils. In Chongqing and Shanghai, he often called it the "Studio of Patience." Later, after coming to Taiwan and living in Nangang, he wrote of it as the "Studio of Fragrance from the Heart" and the "Study of Dos and Don'ts." In 1972, he moved to a place next to Fudan Bridge and called his residence "Fudan Building," while he named his small house in Xindian as "Building Embracing the Hills." Judging from the numerous title pieces for his studio written by friends, one can imagine the vibrant scenes of convivial friends there.
Many of Fu Chuan-fu's early seals impressed on his artworks were carved by his father. After he came to Taiwan, such prominent figures as Wang Chuang-wei, Tseng Shao-chieh (1910-1988), Tao Shou-po (1902-1997), and Wu Ping carved seals for him, not to mention the numerous ones done by his pupils. These seals also serve as a microcosm of developments in Taiwan over the past half-century in seal carving. This exhibit thus presents multiple facets of Fu Chuan-fu's background, studies, travels, and seals to portray the influences on him from the past and his future importance in art circles.
Flock of Cranes (II)
- Fu Chuan-fu (1910-2007), Republican period
- Mounted, ink and colors on paper, 33.8×136.2 cm
Fu Chuan-fu enjoyed painting cranes but never felt he had mastered the subject, which is why he did not formally display such works.
Tao Yuanming with a Pine and Chrysanthemums
- Wang Renzhi (1869-1932), Qing dynasty, 1929
- Hanging scroll, ink and colors on paper, 84.4×30.5 cm
Wang Renzhi (1869-1932), style name Qianlou and sobriquet Lenggong, was a native of Hangzhou in Zhejiang. The president of Xiling Painting and Calligraphy Society, he was also the mentor of Fu Chuan-fu in painting. He followed the manner of the Four Wangs earlier in the Qing dynasty, his brushwork elegantly pure and beautifully smooth.
Seals for "Qixin jue'an" ("Moor the heart at the shore of enlightenment") and "Langji yitan" ("Leave traces of waves in art circles")
- Wang Chuang-wei (1909-1998), Republican period, 1973
- Stone, 3.6×3.6×8.7 cm
Wang Chuang-wei, original name Yuanli, studio name Yuzhao shanfang, was born in Yi County, Hebei. Famous as a seal carver, he formed the "Sea Peak (Taiwan) Seal Carving Society" and the "Seal Carving Association of the Republic of China," exerting a great influence on the field of seal carving in Taiwan. Wang carved many of the seals used by Fu Chuan-fu after Fu's arrival in Taiwan.
