University presents plaque marking asteroid named after late painter

Taipei, April 21 (CNA) National Central University (NCU) on Monday presented a plaque to the Chen Cheng-po (陳澄波) Cultural Foundation certifying that an asteroid it discovered has been named after the late artist.

In January, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved an application by NCU's Lulin Observatory for the asteroid, discovered in 2007, to be named "Chenchengpo," and assigned it the formal designation number "661666," according to a statement released 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," according to an entry on the IAU's bulletin about the designation.

NCU Graduate Institute of Astronomy Professor Ip Wing-huen (葉永烜), who suggested the name, told a news conference Monday that the IAU is very strict in its review of proposals for such designations.

Underlining the significance of the designation, Ip said the IAU only accepts applications to name astronomical objects after people who have made a significant contribution to the humanities, while rejecting the names of business people, military leaders and politicians, Ip said.

Chen's landscape paintings often reflected a lust for life, but what was more respectable was his pursuit of peace, as a result of which he lost his life, Ip said.

"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," Ip said, referring to Chen's death in 1947.

The chairman of the Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation is the artist's oldest grandson, Chen Li-po (陳立栢).

Chen Li-po said the foundation will work to figure out how best to use the asteroid's designation to create a positive impact on science, art and cultural spheres.

A mini-exhibition introducing the Chenchengpo asteroid has been set up at the National Railway Museum alongside the "Rediscovering Taiwan: Chen Cheng-po's 130th Birthday Anniversary Exhibition," which will run until May 11, the Ministry of Culture said in a statement.

Chen Cheng-po was killed during the 228 Incident in 1947, in the aftermath of the then Kuomintang (KMT) regime's brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters 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.