Yang Qi-dong (Chinese: 楊啟東) (November 8, 1906 – July 5, 2003) was a watercolor artist,[1] oil painter, educator, and art critic from Fengyuan, Taichung City, Taiwan.
In October 1927, Yang's watercolor painting The Timber Pond at Dusk was selected for the inaugural Taiwan Fine Arts Exhibition (also referred as Taiten).
Over the years, he was selected for Taiten and Futen ten times and also served as a juror for art exhibitions at Taichung Prefecture schools.
During this time, he mentored several artists, including Zhao Zongguan, Luo Xiuxiong, You Chaohui, Ji Huiming, and Shi Chunxiao,[6] leaving a profound impact on the art scene in central Taiwan.In 1954, Yang co-founded the Central Taiwan Art Association alongside other artists such as Lin Zhi-zhu, Yan Shui-long, Chen Xia-yu, Ye Huo-cheng, and Hong Kong-da.
[7] After retiring, Yang Qi-dong continued to reside in the school dormitory on Linsen Road in Taichung City's West District, maintaining his habit of painting from life.
He also experimented with traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.Yang's works are significant for their detailed documentation of Taiwan's rural and cultural landscapes from the 1930s to the post-war period, making him a key figure in the local art scene.