Chen Ruey Fu

Chen Ruey Fu (born November 29, 1935) is a Taiwanese artist known for his affiliation with the sea. He hails from Liouciou Township in Pingtung County, Taiwan. Chen's artistic repertoire revolves predominantly around the theme of the ocean, earning him the nickname "Prince of the Sea" in the art world.
== Life ==
Chen Ruey Fu was born in Baiwei Fishing Village (now Benfu Village) in Liouciou Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan. He was the eldest son in the family and had five younger siblings. His father, Chen Shangxing, served as a staff member in the Liouciou Township Office and placed great emphasis on his children's education. Besides formal education, he encouraged them to cultivate their personal interests, which had a profound influence on Chen Ruey Fu's dedication to his artistic career.
In 1948, Chen Ruey Fu graduated from Liouciou National School (now Liouciou Elementary School) and went on to study at Donggang Junior High School in Pingtung County. The impressions of Donggang Fishing Village left a lasting impact on the artist. His oil painting work titled "Entering the Port," created in 1996, vividly depicts the coastal scenery of Donggang.
In 1954, Chen Ruey Fu enrolled in Pingtung Normal School and chose to major in Fine Arts. After graduation, he worked as an art teacher at Chenggong Elementary School in Kaohsiung City (now Chenggong Elementary School in Kaohsiung City). While teaching, Chen continuously sought to improve his painting skills. He attended the "Qixiang Art Research Institute," established by Liu Qixiang (February 3, 1910 - April 27, 1998) in Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City, to study figure drawing and oil painting. During this period, he also received guidance from senior painters such as Yen Shui-long, Yang Sanlang, Li Shih-chiao, and Liao Jichun, benefiting greatly from their mentorship. Since then, Chen devoted himself to oil painting. His works have received recognition, including the 2nd place in Western Painting at the 18th Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition, the Mining Industry Award at the 1961 TAIYANG Art Exhibition, the Golden Chalice Award from the Republic of China Painting Association in 1973, and the Literary and Artistic Award from the Republic of China Literary and Artistic Association in 1980.
In the field of art education, Chen Ruey Fu traveled to Japan for study and observation early in his career. He also served as an advisor in the Fine Arts Division of the Kaohsiung City Government, making significant contributions to the promotion of art education in Taiwan.
== Painting Style ==
Influenced by his upbringing, Chen Ruey Fu's artworks primarily revolve around the theme of the sea. Seascapes, fishing ports, and fishing villages are his subjects of depiction. Chen's artistic career can be broadly divided into three periods:
Early Period (1956-1979): During this phase, his works encompassed diverse subjects, with a focus on landscape paintings in the style of Impressionism.
Middle Period (1979-1984): The predominant theme of this period was coastal scenery, capturing the essence of the seaside.
Recent Years (1984 to the present): In recent years, Chen has focused on portraying the lives of fishermen while also depicting the diverse aspects and changing seasons of the ocean.
Category:Taiwanese people
Category:Taiwanese artists
Category:1935 births