He Zhaoqu, the first post-war painter in Taiwan, was diagnosed with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), and passed away at 7:13 this morning at the age of 92.
He Zhengguang, brother of He Zhaoqu and the founder of “Artist” magazine, confirmed the news in an interview. He Zhengguang said that He Zhaoqu was sent to the hospital last week due to suspected cold symptoms and was unwell. The doctor diagnosed him as a severe case of COVID-19.
According to the official website of the “Artist” magazine, He Zhaochu was born in Luliaokeng, Hsinchu in 1931. He is the first generation of outstanding painters following the Gulf War. His father was a folk painter. , After graduation, he served as an elementary school art teacher.
He Zhaoqu’s watercolor paintings were selected for provincial exhibitions in 1950, and he has actively participated in various government-run art exhibitions since 1957. His oil paintings “Fanglan Mountain”, “Rear Window” and “Indoor” have won awards in Taiyang Exhibition and Provincial Exhibition for three consecutive years, and he has won awards from senior painters Recommended by Li Meishu, he became a member of the Taiyang Art Association at the age of 31, and many works were officially purchased and collected.
He Zhaoqu’s painting style started from figurative sketching, influenced by Cubism and abstract painting, formed a split screen, emphasizing the combination of lines and blocks. However, he still insisted on not painting out of thin air. In the 1980s, he traveled to Europe to collect materials for sketching. He preferred to paint with the scenery of various places in Taiwan, especially the scenery of Tamsui and Shiding.
Four of He Zhaoqu’s five brothers are painters, known as the “He Family Class” in the painting circle.
(Responsible editor-in-chief: Zhuang Yuyu)
