Lin Chih-Hsin

Lin Chih-Hsin (1936 - ) is a Taiwanese artist born in Guiren District, Tainan City. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Tainan Normal University (now the Department of Visual Arts and Design at National University of Tainan). He has created numerous large-scale oil paintings and prints featuring Taiwan's scenic and cultural landscapes, which have been exhibited both in Taiwan and abroad. He also served as the president of the Tainan Fine Arts Association (Nan Mei Hui).
==Life==
Lin Chih-Hsin was born in 1936 in Guiren Township, Shinchiku County, during the Japanese colonial period in Tainan, Taiwan. In 1952, he enrolled in the Fine Arts Department at Tainan Normal University. During his time at the school, he received guidance in woodcut techniques from his teacher, Zhang Linshu. Later on, under the editorial direction of Yuyu Yang, the chief editor of the magazine Harvest, his woodcut works were continuously published. His pieces were also featured in publications such as Tainana Youth, Free Youth, Central Daily News, and Taiwan Shin Sheng Daily News. This period marked Lin's determination to make woodcut prints his primary artistic medium. His prints during this time were characterized by intricate lines and delicate style, with smaller dimensions. 
After graduating in 1955, Lin taught at an elementary school. While teaching, he continued his artistic endeavors. Through Yang Yingfeng's introduction, he became acquainted with the works of Japanese printmaker Munakata Shikō. Inspired by Munakata's works, Lin Chih-Hsin's style shifted from delicate to dynamic, featuring bold and powerful strokes, as well as larger dimensions.
Regarding artistic media, Lin Chih-Hsin looked up to Picasso as a role model, adopting the belief of "able to carve, able to paint, able to sculpt, and able to mold." He believed that artists should not limit themselves to a single medium or skill. Consequently, he began to explore a wide range of artistic creations, including ink wash painting, printmaking, sculpture, glass-work, and oil painting. In 1978, he even studied Koji pottery under the guidance of Master Lin Tianmu, a prominent figure in the field (direct disciple of Yeh Wang). Lin Chih-Hsin tirelessly pursued his artistic creations and began participating in international exhibitions from 1972 onward.
In 1980, Lin received the "Golden Goblet Award" from the Chinese Painting Society. In 1981, he was honored with the Arts and Culture Award from the Taiwan Provincial Government. In 1982, he held a solo exhibition at the National Gallery of the National Museum of History, and was awarded the "Honorary Gold Medal" by the museum. In 1996, he received the Golden Seal Award from the Printmaking Association of the Republic of China, the 19th Wu San-lian Award for Western Painting, and the Global Chinese Culture and Arts Heritage Award, among other accolades. He also served as the president of the Tainan Art Research Association for the 47th to 50th terms from 1999 to 2002.
==Work==
Lin Chih-Hsin's creations primarily depict the rustic charm of Taiwan, including scenes of rural life, folk activities, and childhood memories.
===Printmaking===
Welcoming the Bride: Measuring 94.5 cm in length and 50 cm in width, this is a long-scroll woodblock print created by Lin Chih-Hsin in 1980. It was inspired by the Ancient Wedding Ceremony exhibition held by the National Museum of History in Tainan. The piece was completed in 1982 and is currently held in the collection of the National Museum of History.
Welcoming Matsu: This is a large-scale long-scroll watermarked woodcut piece conceived by Lin Chih-Hsin in 1975 and completed in 1995. The work consists of a total of 68 panels depicting scenes from the Matsu festival, with each panel measuring approximately 183 cm in length and 91.5 cm in width. The entire piece spans 124 meters in length and 91.5 cm in width.
===Oil Paintings===
Formosa the Beautiful : This is a panoramic oil painting depicting the cultural and scenic landscapes of Taiwan, stretching from Keelung Island in the north to Eluanbi in the south, encompassing the charm of western Taiwan. The conception of this piece took 18 years, and its creation spanned 7 years, a total of 25 years of dedication. It is the world's largest and longest continuous oil painting, composed of 102 panels, each measuring 112 cm in width and 243 cm in length. The total length is 248 meters. It was first publicly exhibited at the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts on December 7, 2014, and was later exhibited in Hangzhou, China from June to September 2016.
Beautiful East Taiwan : This is an ongoing work since 2014, expected to be completed in five years. It, along with Welcoming Matsu and Formosa the Beautiful, constitutes the Love Taiwan Trilogy.
Category:1936 births
Category:Taiwanese people
Category:National Taiwan Normal University alumni
Category:Artists