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A Tribute to the Hometown: Dr. Jing Fan Chen's Solo Exhibition, "Tainan 400: Beautiful Tainan."
For over half a century, Taiwanese artist Dr. Jing Fan Chen, who studied in France and the U.S., has painted Tainan to soothe his homesickness. In celebration of "Tainan 400" in 2024, Dr. Chen will hold a solo exhibition titled "Tainan 400: Beautiful Tainan" from July 14 to 21 at the Art Space on the Kuang-Fu Campus of NCKU. The exhibition will showcase his past and latest Tainan-themed works. Dr. Chen said this exhibition celebrates both "Tainan 400" and serves as a tribute to his fellow townspeople while also marking his 88th birthday and 74 years of artistic pursuit.
The opening ceremony will be held on the morning of July 17, with Dr. Chen and his wife, Lucia Chen, the Director of the Jing Fan Chen Cultural Center in New York, personally presiding over the event. Many distinguished guests will attend, including Vice President Woei-Jer Chuang of NCKU, Assistant Vice President Ping-Sheng Wu, Art Center Director Min-Yuan Ma, former Deputy Mayor of Tainan Qian Dai, and calligrapher Chi-Shan Chen. Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao also sent a congratulatory message wishing the event success.
During his speech, Vice President Zhuang praised Dr. Chen’s diverse artistic achievements, noting not only his paintings but also his translation of the French classic The Little Prince. He expressed the university's honor in hosting the exhibition, hoping for more future collaborations with Dr. Chen and the possibility of permanently displaying his artworks on campus to expand Tainan's cultural reach.
Dr. Chen expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to hold an exhibition at NCKU. In the 1960s, he advocated for a "unified global culture," developing the "Five-Dimensional World Cultural View" and founding the "Neo-Impressionism" school. Since 1964, he has promoted Taiwan as the "cradle of a new cultural renaissance," pushing for the integration of ancient and modern, Eastern and Western cultures. Today, he continues to champion global unity, harmony, and peace, aiming for a better world for all humanity.
The exhibition features 43 works, spanning from 1953 to 2024, with about one-third created specifically for Tainan 400. The earliest piece on display is a 1953 painting of the Tainan Confucius Temple, created when Dr. Chen was a second-year junior high student. Other works reflect the artist's experience of being blacklisted abroad for 21 years, using art to connect with his homeland. Signature pieces like Master Matisse and His Wife Visit Tainan and Van Gogh Paints the Confucius Temple, part of his Neo-Impressionist series, are also on display.
Dr. Chen noted that NCKU is Taiwan’s premier university, with world-class academic achievements. In preparation for the exhibition, he visited the campus in March and April to create works inspired by Banyan Garden, the Small West Gate, and the Fort. The exhibition also features orchid-themed pieces, reflecting Tainan’s significance in precision agriculture. His Neo-Impressionist series includes the Matisse works from 2017, which symbolically take Matisse on a global tour, and the Van Gogh series from 1990, created to honor Van Gogh’s centenary. Dr. Chen’s postmodern artworks have been featured in over 300 textbooks and magazines, and they are included in global art history curriculums.
Born in Guiren, Tainan, Dr. Chen is now 88 years old and has pursued art for 74 years. He is a painter, writer, and thinker. At 14, he began his artistic training, later attending Tainan First Senior High School, being admitted to National Taiwan University, and receiving a French government scholarship. He earned a master's degree in literature and a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Paris. As the founder of Neo-Impressionism, he was also honored as a United Nations Global Tolerance Award recipient and Ambassador of Tolerance and Peace. Since 1964, he has actively promoted the "Taiwan New Renaissance Movement" for 60 years, contributing significantly to Taiwan’s democratic and cultural diplomacy efforts. In 1968, he was the first to translate The Little Prince into Chinese.
The opening ceremony will be held on the morning of July 17, with Dr. Chen and his wife, Lucia Chen, the Director of the Jing Fan Chen Cultural Center in New York, personally presiding over the event. Many distinguished guests will attend, including Vice President Woei-Jer Chuang of NCKU, Assistant Vice President Ping-Sheng Wu, Art Center Director Min-Yuan Ma, former Deputy Mayor of Tainan Qian Dai, and calligrapher Chi-Shan Chen. Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao also sent a congratulatory message wishing the event success.
During his speech, Vice President Zhuang praised Dr. Chen’s diverse artistic achievements, noting not only his paintings but also his translation of the French classic The Little Prince. He expressed the university's honor in hosting the exhibition, hoping for more future collaborations with Dr. Chen and the possibility of permanently displaying his artworks on campus to expand Tainan's cultural reach.
Dr. Chen expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to hold an exhibition at NCKU. In the 1960s, he advocated for a "unified global culture," developing the "Five-Dimensional World Cultural View" and founding the "Neo-Impressionism" school. Since 1964, he has promoted Taiwan as the "cradle of a new cultural renaissance," pushing for the integration of ancient and modern, Eastern and Western cultures. Today, he continues to champion global unity, harmony, and peace, aiming for a better world for all humanity.
The exhibition features 43 works, spanning from 1953 to 2024, with about one-third created specifically for Tainan 400. The earliest piece on display is a 1953 painting of the Tainan Confucius Temple, created when Dr. Chen was a second-year junior high student. Other works reflect the artist's experience of being blacklisted abroad for 21 years, using art to connect with his homeland. Signature pieces like Master Matisse and His Wife Visit Tainan and Van Gogh Paints the Confucius Temple, part of his Neo-Impressionist series, are also on display.
Dr. Chen noted that NCKU is Taiwan’s premier university, with world-class academic achievements. In preparation for the exhibition, he visited the campus in March and April to create works inspired by Banyan Garden, the Small West Gate, and the Fort. The exhibition also features orchid-themed pieces, reflecting Tainan’s significance in precision agriculture. His Neo-Impressionist series includes the Matisse works from 2017, which symbolically take Matisse on a global tour, and the Van Gogh series from 1990, created to honor Van Gogh’s centenary. Dr. Chen’s postmodern artworks have been featured in over 300 textbooks and magazines, and they are included in global art history curriculums.
Born in Guiren, Tainan, Dr. Chen is now 88 years old and has pursued art for 74 years. He is a painter, writer, and thinker. At 14, he began his artistic training, later attending Tainan First Senior High School, being admitted to National Taiwan University, and receiving a French government scholarship. He earned a master's degree in literature and a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Paris. As the founder of Neo-Impressionism, he was also honored as a United Nations Global Tolerance Award recipient and Ambassador of Tolerance and Peace. Since 1964, he has actively promoted the "Taiwan New Renaissance Movement" for 60 years, contributing significantly to Taiwan’s democratic and cultural diplomacy efforts. In 1968, he was the first to translate The Little Prince into Chinese.
Dr. Jing Fan Chen expresses gratitude for the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at NCKU.
Dr. Jing Fan Chen introduces the artwork.
Vice President Woei-Jer Chuang of NCKU praises Dr. Jing Fan Chen's diverse artistic achievements.
A corner of Dr. Jing Fan Chen's solo exhibition, "Tainan 400: Beautiful Tainan."
Dr. Jing Fan Chen's artwork themed around the campus scenery of NCKU.
Group photo.
