River of Art
2015
Documentary
59 mins
“River of Art” both traces an amazing life's journey and, through skillful animation, shows the process by which 96-year-old artist Liu Yu creates his sketches, 8mm films, and watercolor and oil paintings. Born in China in 1918, Liu Yu studied art in Japan in his 20s. Moving back to his home country during World War II, Liu eventually left again, relocating to Taiwan. But Liu’s life remained unsettled: During Taiwan's anti-Communist White Terror era, he was arrested and endured many hardships. On his release, Liu purposely kept a low profile, but he continued to use his art to document history and the places he traveled, expressing his pain and sorrow through the works he produced. Finally, after losing his wife, Liu closed the circle, returning once more to his hometown in China, accompanied by his daughter.
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