In celebration of the 130th birthday of renowned Taiwanese painter Chen Cheng-po (陳澄波), the National Museum of Taiwan History (NMTH), the Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation, and the Institute of Taiwan History at Academia Sinica co-launched the exhibition “Painting from Life: The Story and Times of Chang Chieh and Chen Cheng-po—A Special Exhibition” on May 7.
The exhibition not only aims to celebrate the late painter’s birthday but also to highlight the story of Chen’s wife Chang Chieh (張捷), who, after her husband died from the February 28 incident in 1947, hid and preserved many of the artist’s belongings, including paintings, which bear witness to the times in which he lived.
At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture Sue Wang (王時思) remarked that the exhibition underscores the mutual support between Chen’s family members, their deep concern for society, and the courage with which they faced adversity after they lost Chen. Through artifacts and artworks on display, the exhibition tells a broader story of Taiwanese people’s everyday life during that era, fostering a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s art and political history.
In addition to Chen’s iconic paintings, the exhibition features nearly 500 artifacts donated by his family, including key documents related to the February 28 Incident of 1947. It is organized into six thematic sections: “Chapter of Life,” “Upstairs Secret,” “Super Collector Chang Chieh,” “Our Family,” “Street Artist,” and “Left Behind by the World.”
The exhibition runs until Mar. 1, 2026. For more information, visit the NMTH official website or Facebook page.