Courtyard with Banana Trees Dated 1928 Oils on canvas, 130 x 97 cm From the Collection of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum

The government art exhibitions in Taiwan during the period of Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945) played a major role in art circles, and artists competed to participate in them. In 1927, two of Liao Chi-chun's works were accepted for the first Taiwan Fine Arts Exhibition (Taiten). The following year, he advanced by having this painting accepted for Japan's ninth Imperial Fine Arts Exhibition (Teiten). He not only became a member of art circles but also an important figure. Thus, this can be said to be his breakthrough work. In the winter of 1928, the Japanese oil painter Kawashima Riichiro (1886-1971) came to Taiwan to travel and do sketching. His records of travel in "Central Fine Arts" start off with this description of his impression of Taiwan: "A continuous stretch of banana groves extends from central to southern Taiwan. Fields of sugar cane seem to go on forever. It really makes you feel as if you're in a tropical setting." The warm and bright scenery of central and southern Taiwan attracted many Western-style painters. For Liao Chi-chun, these places also filled the reality of his home and life. This painting also appears in a 1928 photograph of the artist and his friends. The focus of attention here is the lush and prominent banana tree in the foreground. The leaves and shadows create a frame for the composition, in which womenfolk are shown doing daily chores in a courtyard setting. The strong contrast between sunlight and shade suggests a leisurely view from the viewer's position. The pathway extends diagonally through the composition to suggest depth, and the strong sunlight reflects on the walls and through the leaves to create a shimmering contrast of light and dark. The artist, living in Tainan at the time, used a rich palette of light and dark colors to portray the sharp contrasts created by the sunlight and shadows. The scenery reflects much of the manner of southern Taiwan. Despite the strong colors here, they are also quite harmonious. This feature of Liao Chi-chun's style is seen even at this early stage in his career.