Exhibition Guided Tour－Swinging A-Go-Go: Wang Shui-Ho, A Boundary Crosser of His Time

Swinging A-Go-Go: Wang Shui-Ho, A Boundary Crosser of His Time

 

Wang Shui-Ho (1925–2019), after graduating from Akebono Public School (now Taichung Elementary School), began his career in signboard painting. Throughout his life, he witnessed intertwining developments in Taiwan’s art and culture, including Shōwa Modernism (昭和モダン) before World War II, the post-war modernization movement in Taiwanese art, modern art shaped by the U.S. aid program, and the pop culture of Go-go dance. In 1947, thanks to Chang Hsing-Chien (張星建) of the Central Bookstore (中央書局), Wang met the renowned sculptor Chen Hsia-Yu (陳夏雨). This encounter marked the start of his exploration of fine art, with a particular and consistent dedication to the possibilities of sculpture and modernity.

The blend of Japanese, Chinese, and passionate American modern styles shaped the popular cultural ambiance of post-war Taiwan, evident in everyday signage, dance halls, and cinemas. During this period, Wang’s “Shui-Ho Art Studio” (水河畫房), founded in 1946, thrived. His work extended beyond movie billboards, advertising design, and shop signs, branching into typography, graphic and interior design, furniture, lighting, and architecture. He created highly recognizable typefaces, such as the “Shui-Ho Type” (水河體), and trained more than 400 apprentices. His distinctive modernist style spread throughout greater Taichung, and his architectural designs can be found across Taiwan.

The term “A-go-go” in the exhibition title is derived from the lively music and dance styles of 1960s America and was used in post-war Taiwan as a general term for Western pop dance culture. At that time, the extensive presence of U.S. military forces in Taiwan brought Western music into local cafés, dance halls, and radio stations, inspiring the younger generation to emulate American popular culture and sparking a widespread trend.

This exhibition, rooted in the Wang Shui-Ho art archive research launched by the Taichung Art Museum in 2024, uses document collections and oral histories to continually map out his creative journey across art, design, and architecture, forming a crucial foundation for this curatorial effort. This exhibition is organized into five thematic sections: “The Modern Times: Typography, Advertising, and Visual Design,” “The Journey of Fine Art,” “Modern Interiors: Interior, Furniture, and Light Fixture Design,” “Wang Shui-Ho’s Modern Architectural Legacy,” and “Shui-Ho-Sai in Everyday Life.” Together, these sections highlight Wang Shui-Ho’s creative practice across art, design, and architecture, underscoring his active role in shaping the modern era of swinging A-go-go in post-war Taiwan.

Exhibition Guided Tour

 

How to Join

On-site registration opens 20 mins before the start of each tour.
A guided tour audio device is available for loan with a valid ID.

Notes

1. Please arrive and gather at the service desk in the Green Museumbrary lobby 20 minutes before the tour begins.
2. To ensure tour quality, participants are required to use the audio guide devices provided by the Museum. A valid ID (National ID card, driver’s license, National Health Insurance card, or passport) must be presented for borrowing the device.
3. Please check the device upon borrowing. If it is not functioning properly, it can be replaced on-site. In case of damage or loss, compensation will be charged at cost (NTD 2,000 per device).
4. Audio and video recording during the tour is not permitted.
5. The Museum reserves the right to adjust or cancel tours due to staffing or unforeseen circumstances. Any changes will be announced on-site.

Additional Information

1. In the event of a government-declared closure (e.g., due to natural disasters) or other emergencies, the Museum will suspend operations and all tours for the day will be cancelled without prior notice.
2. Matters not covered herein shall be handled in accordance with the Taichung Art Museum Visitor Guidelines.