Richard Lin Show Yu (1933-2011) was born in Taiwan. From 1952 to 1958, he studied architecture and art in the UK at the Polytechnic of Central London (now the University of Westminster), and developed his own unique minimalist style throughout the 60s and 70s.

In the period after holding a solo exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in London in 1958, Lin began to experiment with his creative style. In his early days, he employed abstract expressionism combined with the Chinese philosophical connotations of Eastern thinking. He used inky black flowing brushstrokes to depict his own artistic impression of Chinese landscapes. In the 1960s, when the modern art movement was booming, Lin developed his sense of Zen space in the ‘White Series.’ He was a pioneer: with his simple use of colors, pure form, condensed yet rigorous style, he was well-known in the European art world for his extreme devotion to minimalism.

In 1964, he represented the UK at Documenta III in Kassel, Germany, the first artist in Chinese history to be exhibited there, cementing his international reputation.

In 1966, Lin became a represented artist of Marlborough New London Gallery, one of the most influential galleries in London. This milestone not only placed him at the heart of the European art market but also facilitated his connections with major artists such as Joan Miró and Mark Rothko. As part of the same prestigious gallery, Lin built close friendships with these masters, visiting their studios and exchanging ideas. In 1966, Miró highly praised Lin’s “White Series” and even created two impromptu sketches for him. Rothko, Lucio Fontana, and Sam Francis were also among the artists who visited Lin’s studio, commemorating their mutual admiration.

In 1967, Lin was selected, along with Chu Teh-Chun, Zao Wou-Ki, Chuang Che, Hu Chi-Chung, and Walasse Ting, to participate in the 44th Carnegie International in Pittsburgh. In 1983, the National Palace Museum in Taipei broke its long-standing tradition of collecting only classical works by acquiring Lin’s “Modern Painting Double Relief”—the first modern artwork and the first piece by a living artist to enter its prestigious collection. This marked a significant recognition of Lin’s artistic stature.

Richard LIN passed away in Taiwan in 2011, leaving behind a brilliant and distinguished legacy as a representative artist of Chinese abstract art.