Five Channels

The KUO Po-chuan family, spanning generations, thrived in the commercial hub of Wu Tiao Gang (the Old Five Channels), managing palm industries. Painted in 1927, this piece takes us back to the artist’s birthplace in Tainan, known as “ Dazong Street ” (now the area around Zhongming Street and Haian Road).

Born in Dazong Street of Tainan, KUO Po-chuan moved to Japan in 1928 to learn Western paintings after being accepted into the Tokyo University of the Arts. He studied under the tutelage of OKADA Saburōsuke (1869-1939) and exhibited his works by participating in the Akajimasha, Koufukai and Taiwan Art Exhibition . He learned the Pleinairism (i.e., Japanese contemporary Impressionism,) art trend of the time from OKADA Saburōsuke. He focuses on the expression of light and shadow; his paintings also have a geometric composition that realistically expresses spatial depth. In 1937, Kuo moved to China and taught in Beiping Normal University and Beiping National Art School. In 1939, Kuo met UMEHARA Ryuzaburo and inherited Umehara’s technique of using oil on Xuan paper.