Teng NanKuang: Beauty on a Summer Day

Each Modern is pleased to present the exhibition of legendary Taiwan photographer Teng NanKuang ( a.k.a Deng NanGuang, 1907 -1971) . With the full support of the artist family, the last group of vintages from the Estate will be shown to the public for the first time.

Famous for realism documentary and female portraits, Teng was among the first generation of pioneering Taiwan photographers studied in Tokyo. After returning to Taipei, he opened his studio and led the photography societies in Taiwan until his death. As a leader, an activist, an educator, a critic and a camera enthusiast, Teng was the great figure holding both rationality and sensibility to create fresh photographs with innovative individuation.

Beauty on a Summer Day invites new insights into Teng’s extraordinary oeuvre through his late adventure. Executed from 1956 to his death in 1971, the two different type of prints documented with detailed technical information allow the viewers tracing the threads of the photographer’s daily practice. The works by Minox IIIS, the spy camera Teng frequently used in the 50’s and 60’s, were printed both 11x14 print and a tiny contact print, mounted on a paper and chronicled its technical information on verso. The other group of prints are rare large gelatin silver photographs finished in intense poetic quality. Alongside these works we discover tranquil still-lifes and landscapes one had never seen in Teng’s works before. They reflects not only his background of avant-garde photography when studying in Japan, but also his deep friendship with Long ChinSan who was although the leader of pictorialism society - Teng exploited and integrated different styles boldly and achieved inventive masterpieces of Taiwan photographs.

The gallery will publish a fully illustrated hardbound catalogue of Teng’s late oeuvre.
The gallery would like to extend special thanks to artist family and the son Teng ShiKuang, Dr. Chen HsuehSheng, Chen Yu Ming, and Chuan Huihua for their generous supports to the exhibition.