My Mentor My Father follows Master Shi Kuan-qian’s travels to explore the legendary life of her deceased father, Yuyu Yang, a prominent sculptor inspiring many people in artistic fields for a century. Through Master Shi’s footprints across the world, the pieces of Yuyu Yang’s life course are put together. A legendary life of Yang grows much clearer. Meanwhile, the richness and diversity of his sculpture creations are displayed in the film. In the 8 years of shooting and documenting, Master Shi revisited old friends including scholars, sculptures, investigators and Yuyu Yang’s pupils like a Taiwanese sculptor, Ju Ming. In the travels and the visiting, Master Shi reshapes a deeper impression on her father, who combines a variety of arts in sculpture and becomes an iconic figure leading the bloom of Taiwanese art for a century.
Interestingly, Master Shi sometimes feels confused about her relationship with her father. It is intimate but distant at the same time. Not until Master Shi converted to Buddhism and became a nun did she gradually realize the creative ideas of her father and feel personally attached to the connection between her belief and the creation of Yuyu Yang, who is not only her father but also her master in life.