# Lü Thiat-chiu

Lü Thiat-chiu (June 17, 1899 – September 24, 1942), born Lü Dingzhu, was a painter from Daxi, Taoyuan (modern-day Taoyuan District) during Taiwan under Japanese rule. He was associated with the artistic tradition of the Maruyama-Shijō School of the Kyoto Art School (now Kyoto City University of Arts). In his early years, he primarily worked in traditional Ink wash painting. After studying in Japan, he gained recognition for his bird-and-flower paintings, which often depicted tropical plants, birds, and animals, showcasing the natural beauty of southern landscapes. Demonstrating the refined qualities of composition and a sense of dynamic vitality, his works embody an idealized sense of order, earning him the title of "Master of the Taiwan Art Exhibition."

## Biography

Lü Thiat-chiu was born into a prosperous family, where his father, Lü Yingyang, enjoyed mingling with local Qing literati. Immersed in this cultural environment, Lü Thiat-chiu developed an early interest in traditional literature, calligraphy, and ink painting. In the mid-1920s, following his father's passing,Lü Thiat-chiu relocated to Taipingmachi outside the Walls of Taipei and opened an embroidery shop. By creating bird-and-flower design drafts for customers and copying Shan shui (traditional Chinese landscape painting), bird-and-flower, and figure paintings by renowned artists of the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty as well as modern China, he refined his artistic skills and established a solid foundation in calligraphy and painting. Lü Thiat-chiu's mid-career artistic development was fraught with challenges. In 1927, the Taiwan Education Association, an affiliated organization under the Cultural and Educational Bureau of the Government-General of Taiwan, organized the first government-sponsored Taiwan Art Exhibition (Tai-Ten), officially introducing modern art trends to Taiwan. However, rooted in traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, Lü Thiat-chiu did not gain the favor of the judges and was not selected. This setback motivated him to travel to mainland Japan in 1928, where he enrolled at the Kyoto Art School, a center for the Maruyama-Shijō School tradition. There, he studied under Fukuda Heihachirō, a pioneer in the modern reform movement of bird-and-flower painting. In 1929, Lü Thiat-chiu submitted Plum Blossom and Okra to the third Taiwan Art Exhibition (Tai-Ten). Both pieces were successfully selected for the Eastern Painting category, with Plum Blossom receiving the prestigious Special Selection award· However, due to financial difficulties in his family,Lü Thiat-chiu returned to Taiwan in 1930 after studying for just over two years. Upon his return, he continued participating in the Taiwan Art Exhibition (Tai-Ten), with his work Rear Garden winning the Exhibition Award in 1931.Fighting Rooster Among Castor Plants (蓖麻に軍鷄) received both the Special Selection award and the Exhibition Award at the Taiwan Art Exhibition (Tai-Ten) in 1932.Southern Land (南國) also received the Exhibition Award at the Taiwan Art Exhibition (Tai-Ten) in 1933. Lü Tiezhou's consecutive awards brought him widespread acclaim, with journalist Lin Jinhong from the Taiwan Shinminpao even praising him as the "prodigy of Taiwan's Eastern painting scene."
In the 1930s, a new wave of the Southern School emerged in the Taiwan Art Exhibition (Tai-Ten). During the later period of his career, Lü Thiat-chiu began contemplating a transformation in his style and participated in the 7th Taiwan Art Exhibition (1933) with his landscape work Daxi. This work demonstrates his intention to transform his subject matter, themes, techniques, and style. However, during this period of transition,Lü Thiat-chiu's poor health led to exhaustion from overwork. He passed away on September 24, 1942, due to cardiac paralysis.

## Related Art Activities

In addition to participating in competitions and creating works for the Taiwan Art Exhibition (Tai-Ten), Lü Tiezhou actively contributed to the promotion of art associations. In 1932, he joined the Sendan Society, founded by Kyohara Koton and Kinoshita Seigai. Thereafter, in 1933, he co-founded the Liguang Society with Lin Yushan, Guo Xuehu, and Chen Jinghui. Later, in 1935, he established the Six Brushes Society with Guo Xuehu, Chen Jinghui, Lin Jinhong, Yang Sanlang, and Cao Qiupu, continuing to promote art education activities.
Lü Thiat-chiu also made significant contributions to art education. After returning to Taiwan in 1930, he began teaching students in his studio. His studio was initially located at No. 8, 5th Block, Taipingmachi, and later moved to No. 83, 7th Block. In 1936, it was officially registered and renamed the Nanming Art Institute. Notable students who studied painting under Lü Tiezhou included Lin Xuezhou, Su Qixiang, Liao Lifang, Luo Fangmei, Lü Mengjin, Yu Dehuang, Huang Huazhou, Xu Shenchuan, Chen Yirang, and You Ben'e.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 LAI, mingzhu (2013). 靈動‧淬鍊．呂鐵州 [**Dynamic Refinement: Lü Tiezhou**] (in Chinese). 台中: 國立臺灣美術館. ISBN 9789860381603.
* 1 2 "臺展泰斗、東洋畫翹楚、眾畫家的一代宗師──大師呂鐵州與他的上課教材《鹿圖》". 故事 StoryStudio. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
* ↑ wu, baomei (2021). "呂鐵州與許深州之膠彩創作歷程探討" [**An Exploration of the Journey in Gesso Painting by Lü Tiezhou and Xu Shenzhou**]. 書畫藝術學刊 (in Chinese). 31: 251–286.
* ↑ yan, juanying. "梅，1929" [mei，1929]. 台灣美術展覽會(1927-1943)作品資料庫 (in Chinese).
* ↑ yan, juanying. "秋葵，1929" [qiukui，1929]. 台灣美術展覽會(1927-1943)作品資料庫 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
* ↑ yan, juanying. "後庭，1931" [junting，1931]. 台灣美術展覽會(1927-1943)作品資料庫 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
* ↑ yan, juanying. "蓖麻に軍雞 (蓖麻中的軍雞)，1932" [*Castor Plants with Fighting Rooster* (*蓖麻に軍鷄*), 1932]. 台灣美術展覽會(1927-1943)作品資料庫 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
* ↑ yan, juanying. "南國，1933" [nanguo，1933]. 台灣美術展覽會(1927-1943)作品資料庫 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
* ↑ yan, juanying. "大溪，1933" [daxi，1933]. 台灣美術展覽會(1927-1943)作品資料庫 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
* ↑ "呂鐵州 - 名單之後：臺府展史料庫" [**Lü Tiezhou - Beyond the List: Archive of the Taiwan Governor-General’s Art Exhibition**] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
* 1 2 3 bai, diming (2019). 臺灣美術團體發展史料彙編1：日治時期美術團體（1895-1945） [**Compilation of Historical Materials on the Development of Taiwanese Art Groups, Volume 1: Art Associations during the Japanese Colonial Period (1895–1945)**] (in Chinese). 台中: 國立臺灣美術館.