TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A solo exhibition celebrating the life and work of late abstract artist Li Yuan-chia (李元佳), a founding member of Taiwan's Ton Fan Group (東方畫會) and a pioneering figure in the British avant-garde, has opened at the Winsing Art Place.

The exhibition, co-curated by You Wei (游崴), aims to re-examine the artist’s extensive collection and legacy.

Born in Guangxi, China, in 1929, Li came to Taiwan after World War II, where he was inspired by the modern art concepts of Li Chun-sen (李仲生), establishing a unique visual language that fused traditional brushwork with abstract expressionism.

In the 1960s, Li relocated to Bologna, Italy, joining the avant-garde art group Punto. His style evolved toward minimalism and conceptualism, and he began developing the "point" — a central motif that would define his career.

Li’s work shifted from the canvas as a mere carrier for images to a site for manipulation and reconstruction, redirecting the viewer’s focus from brushstrokes to geometric composition.

This inclination continued into his London period in 1967 and 1968, where he explored spatial installations and interactive works, becoming a pioneer of multiples and participatory art in the UK.

For the final 25 years of his life, he single-handedly built the Li Yuan-chia Museum in Northern England, a significant landmark in modern art. The exhibition features rare footage documenting the artist’s process of building the museum, with one scene showing him moving bricks while wearing a suit — a powerful image that reflects his dedication to art.

The exhibition spans four key periods of the artist’s life — Taipei, Bologna, London, and Cumbria — and features a wide range of works, including calligraphy, painting, bas-relief, interactive pieces, tapestries, photographic prints, and archival documents.

The show aims to fully present the minimalist and spiritual "point" in his work and the cosmic philosophy behind it.

Curator You explained that Li's minimalist works reduce artistry and ego to a minimum, using extensive negative space to create room for the audience's imagination. He noted that Li's interactive soft magnet works were an attempt to democratize art, as the artist believed that art should be accessible to all, regardless of class or status.

The four signature colors that appear repeatedly in Li's works — red, white, gold, and black — are seen by the curator as the artist's signature. They are said to represent life (red), purity (white), nobility (gold), and death (black). His famous "point" can be interpreted as a small bean, an egg, or even an entire universe, said You.