Yuhsiu Museum of Art

Opened in early 2016, the Yuhsiu Museum of Art is a private museum dedicated to promoting contemporary realist art. It is nestled at the foot of Jiujiufeng Mountain in Caotun, Nantou, surrounded by lush green mountains. The museum boasts a serene landscape and unique geographical advantages, resembling a tranquil utopia far from the hustle and bustle, offering visitors an aesthetic journey that leisurely explores the interplay between nature and art. The museum was founded by the couple Hou Ying-Ming and Yeh Yu-Hsiu, built on the belief of 'doing one meaningful thing in a lifetime.' It brought together collective efforts to create a viewing space that combines architectural aesthetics, contemporary art, and natural landscape. Recalling the museum's formative period, Professor Lee Jih-Hsin, the founding director, played a crucial role as a driving force. From beginning to end, he was the founder and guardian of the museum's spirit. Professor Lee Jih-Hsin and Ms. Yeh Yu-Hsiu met through art studies and became close friends and partners. Starting from a shared artistic dream, they together planned, established systems, and cultivated the museum's operations. Even though Director Lee passed away from illness in early 2019, his ideals and spirit continue to be nurtured and upheld by founder Yeh Yu-Hsiu and all museum staff to this day. The Yuhsiu Museum of Art focuses on promoting and researching contemporary realist art. Through exhibitions, collections, education, and international exchange, it deepens public understanding and appreciation of realist art. Concurrently, it actively supports outstanding Taiwanese artists and emerging creators, enhancing the professional standing and visibility of realist art. In addition to local cultivation, the museum also looks globally, inviting representative artists from around the world to participate in exhibitions. This fosters international artistic exchange and resonance, creating a contemporary realist art platform rooted in Taiwan and connected globally. For nearly a decade, since its establishment in Caotun, Nantou, the museum has been concerned with and reflected upon the disparity in art education resources between urban and rural areas. In contrast to the more concentrated and abundant resources in urban areas, rural regions often need teaching partners regarding art instructors, educational materials, and concepts. Therefore, the museum actively implements educational projects for rural children, such as 'My Art Class at the Museum' and 'Art Express,' giving remote children, even those far away in mountainous or coastal areas, the opportunity to access the creative thinking and joy of art. The museum's mission today continues to be to plant seeds of aesthetic appreciation in this simple, tranquil land, injecting sustainable nourishment into local culture, and striving to help art take root, expand outwards, and flourish.