Salut Artiste Paying Tribute to the Colorful Sage - A Highest Respect for Chang Yi-Hsiung

Text/Photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. News arrived that painter Chang Yi-Hsiung passed away on the 27th of this month at the age of 102, embarking on a journey across the sky riding the rainbow. We bless our beloved Ojisan Chang Yi-Hsiung, who left us beautiful memories and incredibly gorgeous, rainbow-like paintings.

Sage was a fellow townsman of the Paris Taiwan Association. His amiable nature and enthusiasm made him quickly become a close elder. He cared meticulously for the younger generation, becoming the "treasure" of the Paris Taiwan community. Humorous and witty, he would perform tricks whenever possible, enjoying magic shows and harmless jokes in front of crowds. "Xiao Ge Dong Mei Tiao" (a Hokkien phrase implying laughter), he always brought joy and broke the seriousness often associated with discussions about Taiwan. Though living in Paris, his heart remained in Taiwan; he was generous in donating for Taiwan’s causes, even donating paintings for charity auctions. In the 1990s, when we established the Taiwan Artists Association in Paris, Sage did not hold back. He not only encouraged young artists but also actively cheered us on. We are grateful for his full support.

In 2000, we saw Chang Yi-Hsiung and his wife Chiang Pao-Chu at an exhibition and captured this historical moment. In 2001, we had the honor of participating in the "Chang Yi-Hsiung and Chiang Pao-Chu Couple Return Home" painting exhibition in Chiayi, Taiwan, witnessing their vigorous creativity.

We frequently interacted with Sage. Ojisan once lived near my home, on the same subway line. Once, we coincidentally met on the subway, and I invited him to my home for tea and chat. Our conversations revolved around his stories—art, Taiwanese politics, etc. These moments in Paris were always pleasant opportunities for emotional expression and exchange, bringing me closer to Elder Sage and establishing a deep friendship. Time flies. When my daughter returned from class, she politely greeted him. Ojisan took coins from his pocket, flipping them to perform magic tricks, amusing everyone with smiles and leaving us with beautiful memories.

Soon after, he moved to a high-end apartment nestled in quiet amidst noise, under the scenic Montmartre hill in Paris, giving him more space to paint. As long as he could hold a brush, existence was most joyful. Painting remained his greatest love, immersing himself wholeheartedly in creation. However, if the association or Taiwanese visitors passed through Paris, he would attend unconditionally, sharing great joy in these wonderful meetings.

Usually healthy and vigorous, Ojisan was still independent, managing all daily life himself. He liked keeping time for himself, embracing his own existence. He regularly went alone to an authentic Japanese diner near the Opera House every week. Once, he invited our family to visit his studio and treated us to lunch at a Japanese restaurant. The spacious room was filled with stretcher bars and frames. Small paintings and decorative wooden puppets covered the walls, along with a series of family photos. Colors on the palette were still wet. Ojisan (already 92 years old) painted whenever he had time. Painting became the happiest ritual of his existence, making him forget himself.

What surprised me was that he kept two treasure pet snakes (one large, one small). Putting down his brush, he happily played with the snakes like a child. Next to him was a trash can housing a group of white mice as snake food. The snakes were often kept inside. He said these pets often accompanied him on trips, even being placed in his pocket during flights. Hard to imagine, right?

Initially, my daughter was studying Visual Communication at the design academy and also liked painting. She and Ojisan drew each other. My daughter drew Ojisan vividly (though perhaps not exactly resembling him, which is another matter). Sage lightly sketched a portrait of my daughter. Through this dialogue of art, we exchanged works. Ojisan generously signed his gift to my daughter, becoming an immortal memory. Later, I visited Sage again, photographing his life and creative scenes in the Montmartre studio. This spiritual connection and unforgettable beautiful memory is like a rainbow gazing toward the horizon, paying highest respect to the colorful Sage.