Taiwanese Artist Forever Among the Stars: Asteroid Named After Chen Cheng-po

A Celestial Tribute to a Visionary Painter and Advocate for Peace

Taipei, April 21 – National Central University (NCU) celebrated a remarkable tribute this week, presenting a plaque to the Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation. This plaque officially recognizes the naming of an asteroid after the renowned Taiwanese artist, Chen Cheng-po (陳澄波).

In January, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved the application from NCU's Lulin Observatory, which discovered the asteroid in 2007. The celestial body will now be known as "Chenchengpo," bearing the formal designation number "661666," as announced by the university.

"Chen Cheng-po (1895-1947) is one of the most iconic figures in Taiwanese art history. He was the first Taiwanese artist whose oil paintings were selected by the Japanese Imperial Art Exhibition," as noted in the IAU's bulletin regarding the designation.

NCU Graduate Institute of Astronomy Professor Ip Wing-huen (葉永烜), who proposed the name, emphasized at a press conference that the IAU maintains stringent standards for such designations. Professor Ip explained that the IAU primarily approves names of astronomical objects to individuals who made significant contributions to the humanities, and does not accept applications for business people, military leaders, or politicians.

Ip highlighted the significance of the honor, stating that Chen's landscape paintings vividly captured his lust for life and his pursuit of peace, values for which he ultimately gave his life.

"Because of his lust for life and pursuit of peace, we want to remember Mr. Chen Cheng-po not only 78 years later but forever, not only in Taiwan, but in the universe," Professor Ip said, referring to Chen's tragic death in 1947.

The chairman of the Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation, Chen Li-po (陳立栢), the artist's oldest grandson, expressed the foundation's commitment to utilizing the asteroid's designation to positively impact science, art, and culture.

The Ministry of Culture has also announced a mini-exhibition introducing the Chenchengpo asteroid at the National Railway Museum, alongside the "Rediscovering Taiwan: Chen Cheng-po's 130th Birthday Anniversary Exhibition," which is scheduled to run until May 11.

Chen Cheng-po tragically lost his life during the 228 Incident in 1947, amidst the Kuomintang (KMT) regime's violent crackdown on anti-government protests across Taiwan.

Chen Cheng-po was chosen as a "peace negotiator" with the KMT armed forces. In that capacity he attended what he thought were "peace talks" with the military at Chiayi Airport but was instead detained and interrogated. Chen was charged with sedition and publicly executed on March 25, 1947 in front of Chiayi Railway Station.