Taiwanese Culture In Madison: Cheng-po Chen & C.K. Chang Art Exhibition

 

On Feb 2nd, 2015, Google Doodle featured a prominent Taiwanese painter Chen, Cheng-Po (1895-1947) to celebrate his 120th birthday.  When it comes to modern art's development in Taiwan, Chiayi born artist Chen, Cheng-Po was often described as the pioneer of Western art in Taiwan. Chen’s painting “Outside Chiayi Street” was selected for the Imperial Art Exhibition in Japan when he was still an art student in Tokyo, making him the first Taiwanese to earn the honor with an oil painting. In the following year, his work of  "Street of Summer" (1927) was chosen again by the same exhibition.  Chen's painting “Lucid Water” was selected for the World Fair in Chicago (1933). 

 

Over the course of his life that was cut short with a tragic ending, Chen produced many artworks representing scenes of life and landscape in Taiwan infused with his personal vision, and conveyed them to the world.  Chen’s life of artistic experience and accomplishment manifested his passion for artistic creation and served as a window through which later generations could view the development of Western art in Taiwan.

                             

Dr. C. K. Chang (1945-) is a full-time surgical pathologist at St. Marys Hospital, Madison. He is a realistic painter, often in the impressionist style. He is an enthusiastic nature lover, always fascinated and awed by nature’s beauty. His primary interest is landscape painting. He has participated in more than 100 group shows over the last 25 years throughout the state, and has won many regional and state awards. He had more than ten solo exhibits at various places, including San Diego Taiwanese Cultural Center, Pyle Center in Madison, Monroe Art Center and University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics.  

 

Dr. Chang has a very "artistic" family. His wife Julie is a pianist and piano teacher, as well as his art critic. Both of his sons, Warren and Peter, are doctors. They both play piano and violin.