The painter Cheng-po Chen is the pride of Chiayi!
Mr. Cheng-po Chen was an outstanding Taiwanese painter whose artworks have now been auctioned for more than NT$100 million. His painting “Sunset at Danshui” was auctioned for NT$212 million at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in 2007, the highest amount that a Taiwanese painting had ever been sold for. Most of Chen’s paintings were on the sights and people of his homeland. The sights of Chiayi became famous through his artistic skills. In March 2001, The Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation provided nine replica oil paintings that were placed within Chiayi Park. The first-ever integration of oil paintings and park scenery in Taiwan greatly enhanced the artistic ambiance of Chiayi Park.
Chen was an outstanding painter and a man of great integrity. He is the pride of all Chiayi people and when we admire his paintings, we are paying our respects to Cheng-po Chen once more.
Profile of Cheng-po Chen
- Born in 1895 AD in Chiayi
- Graduated from the Teaching Department of the Taipei Japanese School
- Studied overseas at Tokyo Fine Art Institute (predecessor to the Tokyo University of the Arts)
- He studied Western painting in the Graduate Department of Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
- 1929 - Moved to Shanghai where he was an art professor and department head at an art college.
- 1933 - Returned to Taiwan
- 1934 - Founded Taiyang Art Society
- 1946 - Elected to the first Chiayi City Council
- 1947 - Killed at the age of 53 during the 228 Incident
- 1926 - The large oil painting Outside Chiayi Street was chosen for the 7th Imperial Art Exhibition of Japan, making him the first Taiwanese Western painter to be chosen and giving the Taiwanese a reason to hold their heads high in Japanese society. Chen would go on to be included on several more occasions.
- 1931 - The first National Art Exhibition was held in Shanghai. Chen’s painting Clear Stream led to him be named one of the twelve best contemporary painters and to represent China at the World Expo in Chicago.
Construction: Erection and exhibition: From March 25, 2001 onwards.
