To further grasp the significance of hand drawings, our team visited the Evergreen Maritime Museum for a special exhibition of Professor Li Chien-Lang’s hand drawings of ancient buildings. As soon as we entered the venue on the third floor, we were amazed by a hand-drawn perspective drawings of Prof. Li, which attracted our attention immediately. The theme of this exhibition is “Exploring the Ancient Architecture of Taiwan in the Ocean -- Special Exhibition of Ancient Architecture Hand Drawings by Li Chien-Lang”. A total of 37 hand drawings of Prof. Li are exhibited, each of which brings us a vision of enjoyment.

Source: Detective of Historic sites

Source: Detective of Historic sites

In the works of Prof. Li, we can see traces of the past and present. For example, Taiwan has mainly an island terrain, and is an important transportation hub. During the nautical era in the 19th century, Taiwan became a trade supply station for various countries to and from Southeast Asia. Thus, Taiwan’s architectural development is closely related to the ocean. There are many political and economic facilities or related buildings derived from river and sea exchanges. This exhibition of Prof. Li’s works ingeniously sorts out the landmark buildings that have witnessed the historical development of Taiwan’s rivers and seas, including the Dutch fortification map of Fengguiwei on the Penghu Islands, the panoramic perspective view of Keelung Harbor Building, the panoramic view of Tamsui’s Fort Santo Domingo, the waterfront of Dadaocheng, the panorama of the settlement, the side section view of the Tainan Grand Matsu Temple, etc. Prof. Li’s paintings seem to take us into ancient times, with colorful and diverse buildings and their inviting stories.

A few strokes outline the buildings and landscape, and the little ink draws the feelings in the artist’s heart. Prof. Li has accumulated 60 years of painting skills and 50 years of research on traditional architecture. In his works, people can feel his deep affection for ancient buildings. Prof. Li uses fisheye, insect vision, and bird’s eye view, deconstructing buildings from the angles of section and perspective, leading us to explore the hidden architectural details, and soaring in the sky above the building with a distant view. That being said, Prof. Li Chien-Lang’s paintings are undoubtedly worthy of being called national treasures in Taiwan’s architectural circles. The visit to the exhibition was a very worthwhile experience for all team members!