Personal Collection Becomes Public Asset: Famous Paintings by Chen Cheng-po and Others Donated to YunTech

(Central News Agency, Yunlin County, June 5th) Calligrapher and collector Zhang Shangwei today donated his collection of works by Taiwanese painter Chen Cheng-po and others to the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech). Zhang hopes to elevate his personal collection into a public cultural asset, revealing that today is just the beginning, with more paintings to be donated in the future.

A donation ceremony was held today at YunTech, featuring five paintings spanning different periods and styles: "Post-War" by Chen Cheng-po, "Baochu Pagoda, Hangzhou" by Liu Xinlu, "European Landscape" by Liao Jichun, "Honfleur" and "Spanish Dancer" by Zhang Yixiong.

Zhang stated that in the face of the AI era, many young people search for answers online, but are relatively unfamiliar with artists from Taiwan's modern art history. Therefore, he feels a greater responsibility to promote this heritage, hoping this donation can expand its influence and transform more precious personal collections into public cultural assets.

Zhang said that due to his acquaintance with YunTech President Chang Chuan-yu and his knowledge of the university's Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation, he decided to donate the five treasured pieces to the school. He emphasized that today is just the start, and he will donate over 20 more paintings by modern Taiwanese artists in the future, including works by Yang San-lang, Lin Yu-shan, and Lan Yin-ding.

President Chang noted that this donation not only strengthens the university's artistic environment and cultural foundation but also provides precious material for teaching and research in related fields. He believes it will have a profound and long-term impact on the preservation of Taiwanese art history, the deepening of art education, and the promotion of regional artistic and cultural development.

President Chang views this donation as an embodiment of the spirit of moving from "private collection" to "shared asset," writing an important chapter in the preservation and inheritance of Taiwanese art and culture.

As the five paintings show slight signs of wear, YunTech plans to first send them to the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation for cleaning by Assistant Professor Yu Hsi-po's team before archiving them. They are expected to be exhibited alongside other collections from the university's art center at a campus collection exhibition planned for the end of the year, allowing students to see the university's artistic collection capacity. (Editor: Lung Po-an)