Chinese Name: 鄭瓊娟
Born: 1931
Died: Jan. 6, 2024
Birthplace: Hsinchu City (Northern Taiwan)
Did You Know That…?
In the exhibition titled “Women Adventurers: Five Eras of Taiwanese Art 1930-1983” organized by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Cheng Chung-chuan was listed as the leading figure among four avant-garde modernist female painters in the 1960s, which also included Li Fang (李芳枝), Huang Jun-se (黃潤色), and Lin Yan (林燕), underlining her significance in the history of modern fine art in Taiwan.
Cheng Chung-chuan was born into a wealthy family in Hsinchu City, where her father was one of the few Western doctors practicing in the area. She has been passionate about art since childhood. After graduating from the National Hsinchu Girl’s Senior High School in 1952, she enrolled in the National Taiwan Normal University Fine Arts Department. Mentored by renowned artists such as Pu Xin-yu (溥心畬), Liao Chi-chun (廖繼春), Lee Shih-chiao (李石樵), and others, she embarked on her path to modern fine art.
Encouraged by her mentor Liao Chi-chun, Cheng sought to break through the orthodox art styles of the time. In 1956, several artists conceived the Fifth Moon Art Group (五月畫會), aspiring to create experimental art. Due to Cheng’s forward-looking attitude and boldness in self-expression, Liao introduced her to the group, and she became one of its founding members.
In 1957, after marrying, Cheng followed her husband to Japan. Devoted to her family, her artistic career came to a pause. Later, she returned to the art scene when she was nearly 60 years old, launching her first exhibition in Japan and regularly participating in the Fifth Moon art exhibition in Taiwan. Her art style underwent a drastic change, shifting from realistic portraits to semi-abstract natural scenery. Often using shades of gold, black, and red, her paintings emit elegance, warmth, and vibrancy.
