First published in 1883, the iconic American magazine Life was purchased by Henry Robinson Luce (1898–1967), the founder of Time, in 1936, who changed its focus to documentary news and photojournalism. With photos, Life showed its readers the brutality of ongoing wars and the charm of celebrities. In 1945, Chen Chi-kwan, as an interpreting officer for the United States Army, spent much time reading Life magazine. When Chen was studying English and keeping himself updated with the latest information around the world with the help of the magazine, perhaps it never occurred to him that someday his name would be connected to Henry Robinson Luce, the founder of Life and later the sponsor of the Tunghai University project. He built a memorial chapel for Henry Winters Luce, the father of Henry Robinson Luce. This architectural work is also one of Chen's greatest architectural works — Tunghai University, Luce Chapel.

*The exhibition images are provided by the Chen Chi-Kwan Foundation

Chen Chi-kwan（1921-2007）

Supervisor | Tainan City Government
Organizer | Tainan Art Museum
Co-Organizer | Chen Chi Kwan Education & Cultural Foundation, Tunghai University
Cooperation units | Tunghai University College of Fine Arts and Creative Design, Tunghai University Department of Architecture
Sponsor | Yi Dian Art

 Special thanks | National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, NCU Institute of Astronomy, National Culture and Arts Foundation, Public Television Service Foundation, Mountain Art Foundation, (Water, Pine and Stone Retreat), Hongkong Land Limited, Singapore Nanshun Shanfang, S.T.Yeh Architects, Spring Pool Glass, Pan Fan, Joan Stanley-Baker, Li Lundin, Lee Dah-huei, Hubert Li, Wilson Yeh

Architectural consultant | Yu Ming-kuo
Curator | Hsiao Kai-ching
Coordinator | Ko Yi-yun, Liao Guan-min

The Only Designated Product for High Fidelity ART Display provided by AUO Corporation

Tainan Art Museum

Teaser Animation of the Exhibition

Exhibition Documentary

The World Map of Chen Chi Kwan

Sichuan Qingmuguan

Shaduzup Command Post (Burma)

Myitkyina Pagoda (Burma)

Sketch of Guizhou Miao Clothing I (Guizhou Province/Qian)

Guizhou Miao Man Playing Bamboo Pipes

Jialing River

Cuihu Park in Kunming (Kunming City)

ew Delhi Street View (India)

Taj Mahal

The Mountain City Chongqing

Towing Boat on the Chuanjiang River

Give It Your All

Playful with the Wind

Gele Mountain & Chongqing

Heaven is Eternal

Kite 1

While the Whim Lasts

Passion

Prairie

Chongqing the Misty City

Spiritual Trip to Jialing

Incense burner, pottery cup and Ming Style Furniture

Gourmet Ⅰ

Napa Cabbage I

Wine Meal

Untitled

Small World

Still Life

Mother and Child

Peaceful Coexistence

Football Impressions

Notes on what Chen Qi-Kuan pursued in his painting starting in 1950 and in the 1980s

Ball Game

Cameras used by Chen Chi-kwan over the years

Noon

Life

Fatal I

Returning Cranes

Dream

Lust

Ferry Crossing

East Mountain

Quietude of Snow

Silver Armor

Harbor

Winter Harbor

Faith

Put Down Sword, Become Buddha Instantly

Incense-filled Air

Reflection

Cathedral

Gorge

Fishermen

Panorama

Vertigo III

Nature and Man

Antipole

Labyrinth

Depth

Venice

Valley

Torso

Thirsty

Ephemera–2

Mosquito Catching Chronicles

Bather

Time Goes By

Market Day

Interpenetration

Yin and Yang (Early Draft)

Yin and Yang–3

Landscape with Sun and Moon

Cosmos

Geomancy

Loess Plateau

Yellow River from Heaven

Water–1

Water–2

Water–3

Water–4

Water–6

Water–5

Head Portrait of Chen Chi-kwan (Duplicate)

Architecture and Landscape Notes

Luce Chapel construction animated documentary

Archives from 1948-1953 in the USA

Letters and the portrait of I.M.Pei

Panorama of Tunghai University

Luce Chapel Model

Architectural Construction Drawings

Headwind

Vital

Shelter

Chance

Sight

Conception

Slave

Less is More

San Francisco Municipal Government Reconstruction Agency

Chen Chi-kwan's Architectural Firm Over the Years

Architecture and Family

Celebrating the 103rd birth anniversary of Chen Chi-kwan (1921-2007), Tainan Art Museum presents its feature exhibition Chen Chi-kwan: A Duet—Art and Architecture to memorize the great architect’s life and artistic journey through its four major topics: “Life,” “Sight,” “Cosmos,” “Architecture and Family.”  Meanwhile, the “World Map” section demonstrates Chen’s imprints in real life and architecture across Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, exploring how Chen developed a unique artistic signature as a modernist in the post-war world throughout his experiences of studying abroad, work, travel, and creation.


The “duet,” as the exhibition title suggests, not only symbolizes Chen’s unparalleled achievements in both architecture and ink-wash painting, but also echoes the modern architectural practice of thin shell hyperbolic paraboloid which became trendy in the 1950s around the world.  The visually and acoustically evocative narrative of the exhibition thus invites viewers to experience the resonance between his architectural and artistic work, while the deployment of space—with elements such as Chinese-garden doors, windows, white walls, and moving landscape—creates a responsive relationship between viewers’ movement and the changing scenery to reveal the hidden charm of Chen’s cultural and artistic genius.

With the support of Chen’s family and close friends, Chen Chi-kwan: A Duet—Art and Architecture displays precious artworks on loan from Hawaii, Hong Kong, Singapore, and domestic collections.  Apart from the exhibition, it collaborates with the College of Fine Arts and Creative Design as well as the Department of Architecture at Tunghai University to organize a series of educational events, including forums and campus walking-tour to visit the buildings and sites designed by Chen during his first years in Taiwan, illustrating his unique spatial aesthetics and clever arrangement.  The exhibition is a tribute to the great architect and a new exploration of his iconic works.  Embarking on the artistic journey, we sincerely invite viewers to the world of Chen Chi-kwan and to discover the extraordinary personality and pioneering practices of Chen as a literatus architect and artist.

Chen Chi-kwan: A Duet —— Art and Architecture

Chen Chi-kwan, Head Portrait of Ieoh Ming Pei, Date unknown, Sketch on paper, 14×13 cm. Private collection.

Response letter from Chen Chi-kwan to I.M. Pei regarding their collaboration on the design of the Tunghai University campus., 1954.04, Archive,  cm. Private collection.

Reference letter from Walter Gropius recognizing Chen’s expertise in architecture., 1959.08.03, Archive,  cm. Private collection.