Yu Ren-han, founder of "Sunrise Moon Gallery," recalled his involvement in the production of the popular 
"Five Lights Award"—the early version of "Super Star Avenue," Taiwan's first large-scale talent show and the longest-running television program in Taiwanese history, accompanying many people born in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s for 33 years. The show's popularity was unparalleled, with everyone eagerly awaiting its premiere. It produced many superstars, with A-mei (Chang Hui-mei) being the most iconic representative of the "Five Lights Award's" legend. His eyes shone as he reminisced about his time working on the show, a unique experience in his television career that made him feel as if he had walked alongside the "Five Lights Award."
In the early days, Yu Renhan joined Qinghua Advertising Company. Major clients included retailers such as Uni-President, Wei Chuan, and Tanabe Pharmaceutical. Advertising on television was the most effective way to expose products. At that time, there were only three television stations: TTV, CTV, and CTS. Yu Renhan said with a smile, "Back then, the ratings were not even a fraction of a percent, but 10% or 20%."
However, at that time, singing variety shows were all live programs where singers performed professionally, such as "Stars Gathering". "Amateurs" had no chance to perform on stage at all. The reason why "Five Lights Award" became an instant hit was mainly because it accurately identified many people with good singing voices but no stage to perform on. Therefore, it innovatively abandoned the program format of movie stars and singers and instead broadcast it in the form of a live competition for "ordinary people". The correct strategy successfully captured the voices of ordinary people who wanted to become famous. These ordinary people might be their relatives and friends, or Aunt Wang or Uncle Li next door. It was down-to-earth and relatable, which resonated with a wide audience!
By chance, Yu Renhan left Qinghua and started his own "Baili Advertising Company" with his colleagues. He continued the production of "Five Lights Award". The predecessor of "Five Lights Award" was "Fieldside Club - Singing Arena". As the name suggests, it was exclusively sponsored by Tanabe Pharmaceuticals. However, Tanabe Pharmaceuticals in Japan later changed its business model to sell prescription drugs, no longer needing to heavily advertise. Yu Renhan explained in detail the ins and outs of the name change to Five Lights Award: "Originally, there were 30 minutes of commercials, but Tanabe Pharmaceuticals only did 10 minutes. If the program was to continue, the remaining 20 minutes would have to be handled by other clients." So Baili proposed a new plan to TTV, increasing clients, revising program content, etc. Yu Renhan recounted the process of participating in the program in a seemingly relaxed tone, but one could feel that the twists and turns during the process were the result of the team's meticulous planning, which led to the program's success and its status as the longest-running program at the time.

From collector to gallery owner,
Yu Renhan's experience in advertising not only gave him a deep understanding of the operations of various businesses, but also indirectly cultivated his unique ability to quickly enter different fields of industry, laying the foundation for his future career in the cultural and artistic field. Yu Renhan said, "As a child, I dreamed of becoming an artist. From having enough money to collect art, to running a gallery, acting as an art agent, and investing in industries, it was all unintentional, but also inevitable." Yu Renhan, who loves art, and his wife Zheng Wanling, who studied art, regard their shared ideal as the fruit of their lifelong pursuit of art.
The "Sunrise Moon Gallery" was founded during the period of Taiwan's economic take-off. Yu Renhan chose the Apollo Building, which had the most galleries at the time, as its location. "I don't know how we made money," he said, giving an example of how he could take a painting upstairs and immediately resell it downstairs for a profit of 20,000 NTD, to describe the incredible sales. However, he also pointed out that the cycle of economic cycles means that very few galleries have survived for 30 or 40 years. The turnover rate in this industry is very high. The Gallery Association even awarded galleries that have maintained operations for over 20 years during its 20th anniversary celebration, and "Sunrise & Moonlight" is a rare exception!

Opening a gallery is the best way to sense the ups and downs of the economy and know which industries are most profitable, because collectors are almost at the top of the pyramid. Yu Renhan analyzed how the identities of collectors have shifted with changes in the economic environment: "Initially, it was doctors, then architects, then CEOs of listed technology companies and financial
tycoons, and now it's retired traditional industry owners." Collecting art is a refined hobby, a symbol of one's taste, and even a good investment. Regarding art investment, Yu Renhan said, "Financial resources and vision are indispensable, and vision takes time to cultivate." He pointed to a whole row of books on the wall, explaining that he has cultivated his vision over 30 years through constant reading and research.
Subjective liking alone is not necessarily a good investment. Yu Ren-han used himself and his wife as an example: "I represent the market's perspective, while my wife has an intuitive perspective. If we both feel it's good, then it's right."
 
Art is diverse, and many people's art purchases are relatively subjective. Yu Ren-han believes there's no right or wrong, but rather intuition. He suggests using 30% of your funds to buy art that you intuitively like or that your family likes, but using the remaining 70% for objective and rational investment—art that you may not like but will appreciate in value. A precise eye can detect market trends and grasp entry and exit points. Yu Ren-han gave an example to illustrate this point: "This artist has been brewing for 30 years and will be very good in the future. If you buy it 28 years ago, it's cheap, that's true, but you have to wait 20 years to sell it for a good price. If you get involved 10 years ago, although you'll pay ten times the price you paid 28 years ago, that's the best entry point because everyone can see that it's good, but it's not the most expensive period."

The value of public art spaces has increased
in recent years due to the rapid changes in Taiwan's economic environment. "Sunrise Moon Gallery" has made a strategic industrial shift, achieving many concrete results in public art. From an aesthetic perspective, Yu Renhan believes that "public art lacks the decorative and beautifying functions of traditional art and the limitations of galleries. Rethinking the meaning of art for public spaces and urban landscapes allows for a holistic consideration of both functionality and artistic form when designing buildings."
Public art encompasses sculptures and installations in public spaces such as parks and MRT stations, enhancing public aesthetic appreciation. In high-end hotels and luxury residences, it elevates the overall quality and value. Successful examples of public space works by "Sunrise Moon Gallery" include: Zhu Fangyi's works at the Le Méridien Taipei and Yuju Construction in Taichung; Li Zaixiao's works at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei and Shengma Construction in Taoyuan; and Lin Jiaqing's works at E.SUN Bank and Nanshan High School. Yu Renhan believes that suitable artworks not only satisfy visual enjoyment but also enhance the richness and layering of the overall architectural space. From a developer's perspective, it's not necessary to spend a fortune on works by famous artists to significantly increase the value of a luxury residence.

回文章列表