ZHONG CHENG

Zhong Cheng 2024 Autumn Auction「Modern And Contemporary Art」

  • Zhong Cheng 2019 Spring Auction「Morden And Contemporary Art」
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    CHEN CHINGJUNG (b.1934)

    Ten Years to Grow Trees, but a Hundred Years to Rear People

    1978

    Oil on Canvas
    130x195cm

    Signed Ching-Jung in Chinese and Chen Ching-Jung in English, dated 1978 Signed on the reverse: signed Chen Ching-Jung and titled in Chinese

    Estimate TWD 750,000-1,000,000
    USD 24,300-32,400
    HKD 0-0

    Hammer Price TWD 900,000
    USD 28,662
    HKD 226,131

Provenance：

Illustrated：

Exhibition：

Exposition：

Chen Chingjung lived in Paris for the majority of his life, best known for his subjects illustrated in low saturated colors set in mysterious and isolated mood. As one of the first Taiwanese surrealist painter, his approach influenced many significant artists at the time. He was very active in the early art scenes of Taiwan, and was a well-known member of the “Salon de Mai” art movement. He was taught by artist Liao Chi-Chun, and graduated from the Fine Arts Department of National Taiwan Normal University. He pursued further studies in Musash Ino Art University and Tokyo Gakugei University. His works received multiple awards and were frequently nominated for the French Salon. Furthermore, he received first prize from the Wu San Lien Award foundation, and US Pavilion Province for his mural creation. As an internationally known artist, Chen had an honorable and successful reputation.  

The following painting was created in the same time as Chen Chingjung painted a large mural for the entrance of National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. He would work back and forth between the details of the two paintings, which took nearly four years for completion. When it was finally finished, it took the art world by surprise. Chen Chinjung’s consistent and rich literary elements were presented throughout the poetic, quiet and soft atmosphere of the piece. The painting is built up of cool and dark color combinations, portraying figures that are slim and sullen in a desolated setting. The work expresses beauty in a faint quiet and solitary manner. Yet during careful observations, viewers were overwhelmed with a strong sense of affection and enthusiasm for life. In Ten Years to Grow Trees, but a Hundred Years to Rear People the cool blue tones that surrounded the edges of the work, perfectly echo the orange and red center. Not only to make the work appear more vibrant, it also represents the essence of “ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to rear people”, when surrounded by darkness, the focus becomes clear. By rendering classical color palate and mystic surrealist ideas, Ching Chinjung’s apprehensive meaningful ideas come to light and develop into strong individual artistic character.

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