Chen Cheng-Po

CHEN Cheng-po’s Street Scene on a Summer Day depicts a hot, sunlit street anchored by a central electricity pole that echoes the rhythm of three lush trees. The painting — his second to be selected for Japan’s prestigious Teiten exhibition — captures the intersection of tradition and modernity. Through symbols of modernization such as factories and power lines, CHEN reflects Taiwan’s changing landscape under Japanese rule. The poles became a visual “ruler,” shaping the composition and guiding the viewer’s eye — as in Looking Towards Chiayi, a depiction of his hometown.
    Born in 1895 in Taiwan, just before Japanese rule began, CHEN studied in Japan and worked in Shanghai and later returned back to Taiwan. In 1947, during the February 28 Incident, he was arrested and publicly executed. Despite his tragic death, his work expresses a strong sense of Taiwanese identity.