When Taichung-based Leo Shih began collecting in the 1990s, he soon realized there was a significant omission in many collections of Chinese art: namely, works by Chinese oil painters from the first half of the 20th century.

1919 saw the beginning of an incredible period of exchange between the East and West. During the so-called ‘Work-Study Movement’, thousands of progressive young Chinese headed to France and Belgium, working in factories to pay for their studies. Influenced by the bohemian life and art they encountered, some returned home to become the first generation of Chinese artists to create Modernist oil paintings. ‘Very few of these works are left today, due to wars, conflicts, and for other reasons. Many artists were forced to preserve only their most important works,’ notes Shih in the video.

In this episode of ‘Meet the collectors,’ Leo Shih invites us into his serene private gallery of Modern and contemporary art. The historically significant works here include paintings by Sanyu, Yan Wenliang, and Guan Liang. The collection, and Shih’s approach, are unique – countless paintings by this first generation were lost or destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. ‘They put their heart and soul into their art,’ Shih reflects. ‘When they have given their all, sometimes even their own lives, to create something, we, as the viewers, can easily relate to the messages conveyed.’