Description/
Two tall flame trees spread their lively and verdant branches over the entire upper edge of the picture, the sun glimmering on their leaves. Old and new storefronts line the street, and small clusters of pedestrians seek refuge from the burning sun with a bamboo hat or parasol. A rickshaw carrying a passenger adds to the buzz of the modern city street. The three-story structure in the picture was the highest building in Chiayi. The shop sign to the left shows the legible writing of "Niitaka Photography" below a logo representing Mount Jade (also known as Niitakayama). Chiayi's location at the foot of Mount Ali makes it a natural transfer hub for the logging industry and the entry point for climbing Mount Jade. These demands add steam to tourism development in Chiayi and local businesses often use "Niitaka" or "Mount Ali" in their names. Research shows that Niitaka Photography was located between Zhongzhen Rd. and Guanghua Rd. in the East District. It was run by Chiayi photographer Fang Qing-mian and specialized in taking mementos photos for hikers heading to Mount Jade. By deliberately indicating the store name, Chen Cheng-po identifies not only the exact location but also underscores Chiayi's economic dependence on her adjacent mountains and forests.
Bibliography/
- Chuanying Yen, The Complete Collection of Taiwanese Art 1: Chen Cheng-Po (Taipei City: Artist Publishing, 1992), 237.
- Yuchun Lin, Oil‧Passion‧Chen Cheng-Po (Taipei City: Lion Art Publishing, 1998), 108-113.
- Suchu Li, "Chin To-Ha's Illustrative Plate Collection and His Paintings," Journal of Art Studies 7 (2010.11): 97-182.
- Chongray Hsiao, "Ilha Formosa! The Lush Forests and Trees of Taiwan as Portrayed by Chen Cheng-Po," in Nostalgia in the Vast Universe: Commemorative Exhibition of Chen Cheng Po, ed. Huifang Wu and Meichen Tseng (Kaohsiung City: Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, 2011), 18-24.
Chiayi Street Scene
1934
Materials & Techniques：Oil on canvas
Dimension：91x116.5 cm
Private Collection
Location:Chiayi Street Scene (now near the junction of Guanghua Rd., Zhongzheng Rd., and Xingzhong St., East District, Chiayi City, Taiwan)
