Qingchen Painting Society The Qingchen Fine Arts Association was a Chiayi-based art group focusing on Western-style painting in the Japanese colonial period.[1] Founded on 29 August 1940,[2] the association was expanded by Lin Rong-Jie, Wong Kun-De, and Chang Yi-Hsiung.[3]
Chiayi was the capital of art in the Japanese colonial period. In terms of Eastern-style painting, the Chun-Meng Painting Society was founded in 1928. In terms of Western-style painting, it was not until 1940 that a group of young aspiring artists established the Qingchen Fine Arts Association,[3] although in 1926 Chen Cheng-Po’s work was selected for the Teiten and he was admired by young artists in Chiayi.
The founding member included Liu Xin-Lu (1906-1984), Wong Kun-Hui (1912-1990), Wong Kun-De (1915-1995), Lin Rong-Jie (1914-2000), Chang Yi-Hsiung (1914-2016), Dai Wen-Zhong, and Anzai Kanichi,[4] with Chen Cheng-Po as the adviser.[3] Most of the members had learned painting in Japan. For example, Wong Kun-Hui and Wong Kun-De had studied at Seizan Painting School in Kyoto, Lin Rong-Jie had studied at the Independent Institute of Fine Arts in Tokyo, Chang Yi-Hsiung had studied at Kawabata Painting School in Tokyo, and Liu Xin-Lu had studied at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts.
The majority of the members were Chiayi-based Western-style painters in the Japanese colonial period. Dedicated to intra-association learning and exchange, the Qingchen Fine Arts Association was founded in the late Japanese colonial period, namely during the Second World War, so its activities were thin on the ground. In the postwar era, the social atmosphere was oppressive, and the association’s activities had been suspended. Consequently, it gradually faded away.[1] The association hadn’t held any event or exhibition since its 9th seminar in March 1941. It was not until 29-31 July 1955 that the association and the Chun-Meng Painting Society co-organized the 3rd Southern Art Exhibition on the floor above the Chiayi County Chamber of Commerce,[5][6] thereby stimulating interest in art among people in Southern Taiwan. Besides, Wong Kun-De founded the Chiayi Fine Arts Association in 1964 to pursue the mission of developing regional art and making art a common practice.[3]