# Chen Ching-fen

Chen Ching-fen (Chinese: 陳清汾; April 21, 1910 - February 20, 1987) was a modern Taiwanese Western painter. He was born in Dadaocheng, Taipei. He was the fourth son of Chen Tian-lai, the tea merchant "Jinji Tea Company" owner during the Japanese colonial period. He was the first Taiwanese painter to study painting in France and one of the founders of the Taiyang Art Association [zh].

## Life

Chen Ching-fen was born in Dadaocheng, Taipei, in 1910. His father, Chen Tian-lai [zh], was a tea tycoon during the Japanese colonial period. In 1891, he founded the "Jinji Tea Company," which mainly sold Baozhong tea and oolong tea to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Manchuria, and other places. In 1923, he invested in Taipei Penglai Pavilion Restaurant. In 1935, he built the Yongle Theater and both auditoriums of the First Theater in Dadaocheng. He also served as the president of the Tea Merchants Association and a member of the Taipei State Agreement. The eldest brother, Ching-su, the second brother, Ching-hsiou, and the third brother, Ching-bo (1905-1945), the elder sister, Chen Bao-chai, and Taiwan's first female painter, Chen Jin, were classmates at Taipei Third High School for Girls (now Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls' Senior High School). In 1928, she married Zhou Yimin, the daughter of Zhou Yiji, a large landowner in Hsinchu. Ching-fen was the fourth son and had no pressure to inherit the family business, that means he could follow his own preferences and embarked on the path of learning art.
After graduating from Taiping Public School in 1925, Chen Ching-fen went to Japan. It was reported that he first studied at Kyoto and Kansai Art Academy and then transferred to Tokyo Japan Art School. After graduation, he was introduced by Y.S. Lee [zh] to study under Ikuma Arishima, one of the founders of the "Two Science Association." In 1928, Ikuma Arishima took his two daughters to Paris, France, to study music, and Chen Ching-fen also followed him to study and receive the baptism of the new art trend. Before leaving, he accepted Arishima Ima's suggestion to hold a personal painting exhibition at the Taipei Museum, exhibiting more than 30 works of study in Japan. At the same time, Ikuma Arishima also exhibited four works to show his support. The opening of this exhibition was also initiated by Kuraoka Hikosuke, Kinichiro Ishikawa, Kawakawa Tetsu [zh], Koo Hsien-jung, Lin Xiongzheng [zh], Wu Changcai [zh], and others because of his father Chen Tian-lai's abundant connections. Chen Ching-fen lived up to everyone's expectations. When he arrived in Paris, he submitted two works to be selected for the Bi-Division Exhibition at the age of 18. He also produced four works in the autumn to participate in the Salon d'Automne. Among them, the oil painting No. 25, Sad Village, was selected, making him the youngest Taiwanese to be chosen for the Salon de Paris.
During his stay in France, Chen Ching-fen still paid attention to the developments in the Taiwanese art scene. He participated in the "Red Island Society" led by Chen Chih-chi in 1929 and produced the first Western painting exhibition held at the Taipei Museum. The works of Tan Teng-pho, Chen Chih-chi, Yang Zuosaburo [zh], Zhang Qiuhai [zh],Liao Jichun [zh], and others were also exhibited. The same year, he was again selected for the 16th Bi-Division Exhibition with A Corner of the Park.
In 1930, he was recommended as an independent (アンデパンダン) member. In September, his work Light of the Spring Morning was selected for the 17th Bi-Division Exhibition with Liu Qixiang. In the same year, he was again chosen for the French Salon Exhibition.
In 1931, two works, including Roofs of Paris, were selected for the 18th Nikka Exhibition. In the same year, Chen Ching-fen, who was only 22 years old, returned to Taiwan after completing his studies. During his study tour, he was selected for the Nikka Exhibition and the French Salon Exhibition 7 times in a row. He attracted considerable attention from all walks of life in Taiwan and was praised as a talented painter. In January of the following year, after returning to Taiwan, the "Exhibition of Works in Europe" was held in the old building of the Governor-General's Office, exhibiting 60 learning results. Ikuma Arishima also took the Mizuho Maru to watch and guide. His comments on the paintings were also published in the Taiwan Daily News for two days, which shows the importance and expectations of Chen Ching-fen. Chen Ching-fen's nearly 5 years of studying in Paris, his life was also colorful. He compiled his observations and feelings into five short articles - Views of Paris, published in the Taiwan Daily News at the end of 1931.
After returning to his hometown, Chen Ching-fen actively participated in art activities in the art world. From 1933 to 1944, he exhibited works at the 7th to 10th Taiwan Art Exhibition (abbreviated as Taiwan Exhibition) and the 1st to 6th Fu Exhibition. His works were awarded the "Special Selection—Taiwan Exhibition Award", "Special Selection—Asahi Award”, and "Recommendation”. In 1934, he co-founded the "Taiyang Art Association" with Tan Teng-pho, Liao Jichun [zh], Yen Shui-long, Li Mei-shu, Li Shiqiao [zh], and Japanese painter Tateishi Tetsujin [zh], hoping to "open up new frontiers and sow seeds, so that new painters can have the opportunity to freely publish their works" and create a different exhibition venue from the Taiwan Art Exhibition.
In May 1939, he married Tanaka Fujiko through the matchmaker of his mentor, Ikuma Arishima, and changed his name to Tanaka Ching-fen. He also had another wife, Wang Shuyi [zh], the niece of Wang Xiangchan [zh]. At the same time, he was also entrusted by his father with the task of developing the tea business in Semarang, Indonesia, following his two elder brothers. In 1941, he served as the representative director of Tanaka Fuji Steel. After the war, he continued to publish oil paintings as he loved art. From 1946 to 1973, he was a reviewer of the Western Painting Department of the 1st to 27th Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition (abbreviated as Provincial Exhibition), submitting one to three works annually. However, as his relatives and brother passed away one after another, the burden of the family business was transferred to him, so he had to give up painting and go into business.
In 1956, Chen Ching-fen took on the "Jinji Tea Company" business and served in many positions, including being recruited as a member of the Taiwan Provincial Government from 1949 to 1953. After resigning, he devoted himself to promoting the production and export of Taiwan's tea industry. He served as the chairman of the Taiwan Provincial Tea Business Association, the chairman of the Taiwan Tea Export Association, the chairman of the First Theater and Yongle Theater, the director of the Taiwan Provincial Agricultural and Forestry Company, the director of Tai Alkali, the chairman of Jinyi Tea Company, the director of Hua Nan Bank, the director of Taipei City Bank, the chairman of Taipei Sports Association, and the chairman of Taibei Middle School. He wrote "Wanli Guxing" (A Record of Global Observations), a collection of essays about Chen Ching-fen's travels around the world in 1952 to investigate the tea export business. The book also contains many sketches of people and scenery he saw during the journey. He died of illness in Taipei on February 20, 1987, at 75.

## Award-winning artworks

The following is a list of Chen’s award-winning artworks:
* In 1927, Japan Art School Gold Prize.
* In 1928, Arch de Triomphe and Willows by the River were selected for the Second Science Association.
* In 1928, Sad Village was selected for the Paris Salon Art Exhibition.
* In 1929, A Corner of the Park was selected for the 16th Second Science Exhibition.
* In 1930, Light of the Spring Dynasty was selected for the 17th Second Science Exhibition.
* In 1931, two works, including "Barry Roof," were selected for the 18th Second Science Exhibition.
* In 1933, Still Life with Vegetables and Rooftops in Paris were selected for the Seventh Taiwan Exhibition, and Tea Garden was selected for the Seventh Taiwan Exhibition “Taiwan Exhibition Reward”.
* In 1934, Landscape without Sky was a special selection of the eighth Taiwan Exhibition “Asahi Reward”.
* In 1935, Lin Benyuan Garden was selected for the ninth Taiwan Exhibition.
* In 1936, Portrait of a Certain Woman and Shepherd Boy Returning to the Village were recommended for the tenth Taiwan Exhibition.
* In 1938, the first exhibition of Kyudanban Scenery was not inspected.
* In 1939, Karuizawa Pond was specially selected for the second exhibition as “Recommend”.
* In 1940, Green Shade was selected for the Third Huifu Exhibition.
* In 1941, Good Day in Beijing was selected for the Fourth Beijing Exhibition.
* In 1942, China Women was recommended for the Fifth Exhibition.
* In 1943, Dawn in Shanghai was recommended for the Sixth Home Exhibition.