The French philosopher Blaise Pascal once wrote in Pensées: “Man is but a reed, the weakest in nature; but he is a thinking reed.（un roseau pensant）” Compared to the vastness of the universe, humanity may be fragile and small, yet through thought, it contains the immensity of the world. In the history of Taiwanese art, Xiao Ru-Song stands as such a thinking reed—an artist whose work transcends technique to embody philosophical depth and spiritual strength.

Xiao elevated watercolor painting to a richness and density nearly comparable to oil painting, imbuing his compositions with profound depth and a serene spirituality. Whether depicting figures, still lifes, or landscapes, he pursued a complete harmony among color, form, emotion, and perception—revealing an artistic aspiration that transcends representation.

Having lived through the desolation of World War II and the uneasy coexistence of freedom and constraint in its aftermath, Xiao transformed the solemnity of his early academic training into a purified and meditative aesthetic. Through the symbolism of color and the metaphor of form, he distilled his passion for life and art onto the canvas, turning each work into a profound contemplation of time, spirit, and existence.

Organizers: Asia University, Asia University Museum of Modern Art, Hsinchu County Government, Hsinchu County Council

Co-organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau, Hsinchu County Government

Legal Advisor: InfoShare Tech Law Office– Attorney Mann Liu

Lending Institutions: National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Apollo Gallery, Ming Kuan Gallery, East Gallery, National Chutung Senior High School

Special Thanks To: Lin Kao-Chun, Fan Cheng-Chiu, Hung I-Hsiang, Chen Teng-Shou, Liu Ta-Chih, and Katy Hsiu Chih Chien(listed in order by stroke count of surname)