In his paintings the Taiwanese artist Yahon Chang brings together traditional Chinese ink-wash painting and Western forms of artistic expression to produce a synthesis of East and West. Typically standing on large sheets of linen or Xuan paper and wielding a brush almost as long as he is tall, Chang creates works imbued with performative energy and characterized by large, sweeping brushstrokes. Drawing on Chinese literati and Zen (Chan) Buddhist traditions, the artist understands painting as an activity that connects body and mind. His entire body functions as an axis for these expressive paintings and is influenced by his training in calligraphy. This publication offers the first insight into the artist's extensive oeuvre and includes exhibition views as well as accompanying texts. YAHON CHANG (*1948) began his first calligraphy and painting lessons at the age of six and later studied at the National Taiwan Univerity of Arts (1976) and the Taipei Univeristy of the Arts (2009). Having launched his career in Asia, he has also exhibited in Europe and the USA since the early 2000s.
