Hsieh Kun-Shan

Kun-Shan grew up in poverty and began working in a factory after leaving primary school to support himself. At the age of 16, he suffered a severe electric shock in a workplace accident, resulting in the amputation of both hands and his lower right leg, as well as the loss of sight in his right eye. Confronted with these life-changing disabilities, Kun-Shan taught himself to sketch and draw using his mouth over the course of seven years. In 1980, he studied painting techniques under a renowned Taiwanese painter.

Kun-Shan became a full member of the Association in 1990 and, since 2002, has served as a member of the VDMFK board.

His artistic style reflects the influences of both the impressionists and traditional Far Eastern art. His oil paintings are characterised by rich variations in tone and colour and are a testament to his optimistic and humorous spirit. Kun-Shan favourite subjects include landscapes, still lifes, and animals, particularly river carp, which he captures in lively, flowing compositions. In his exploration of large-format painting, he created Golden Pond, a monumental work measuring 259 x 182 cm, completed over the course of a year. This painting earned him the American Visual Arts Prize from the “Association for Especially Talented Artists” in 1997.

In addition to his artistic achievements, Kun-Shan is also an author. His autobiography, I am Kun-Shan Hsieh, was published in 2002, achieving great success in Taiwan and subsequently being translated into several languages.