In ancient China, people often referred to the notion of viewing a painting as “reading a painting.” This process encompassed more than mere visual observation; it involved understanding, emotional connection, and intellectual exchange. It was as if one entered the artist’s inner world, where each brushstroke engaged in a dialogue, while every element—whether flowers, birds, or landscapes—served as a conduit to the soul.
When one stands before the works of Taiwanese painter Chiu Su-mei, this profound experience of “reading a painting” comes to mind. Chiu’s artworks resemble captivating poems that exude delicacy and mystery. They witness the artist’s journey, characterized by the principles of “drawing from the past, learning from nature, and flourishing within the heart.”

Drawing on the past

Chiu has dedicated over three decades to the practice of Gongbi, a meticulous realist brush technique in Chinese painting, garnering numerous prestigious awards in the process. Currently, she is also the Honorary Chairwoman of the Gongbi Painting Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

At her solo exhibitions, Chiu likes to include replicas of ancient paintings. While it’s an artistic approach that only a few artists adopt nowadays due to the difficulty and arguably low market demand, it’s one that Chiu embraces because it allows her to master the skills and philosophies of the great artists that have passed before her.