Chen Yin-hui was born in 1931 in Chiayi, Taiwan. He learned from famous artists Liao Chi-chun and Yang San-lang respectively at the Department of Fine Arts, National Taiwan Normal University and graduated in 1954. During college years, Chen won the second place at the “Provincial Student Fine Arts Exhibition” in 1952, and the third place at the same exhibition in 1954. By 1963, the artist had received plentiful awards from most major exhibitions in Taiwan. In 1955, Chen took up a teaching position at Peikang Senior High School. In 1957, Chen became a teaching assistant of his alma mater upon invitation from Mo Ta-yuan, head of the Department of Fine Arts. He has won the Rotary Award (1961), Golden Nobility Award (1980), Sun Yat-sen Literature and Arts Award (1986), College and Independent Academy Excellent Teacher Award (1991), Lin Pen-yuan Chinese Culture Award, and Yang San-lang Award. In 2002, the artist received Wu San-lien Arts Award. Between 1966 and 2002, he had 33 solo exhibitions.

The artist makes a smart use of red, blue, yellow and white to create warmth and happiness in Still Life. The objects look almost sweet on the lemon-yellow table. As usual, Chen uses thick black contours and the contrasting colors of red, blue and green to present still objects in a daring way. The still life on the table looks homely and accommodating under the warm sun. They are portrayed in so much spatial and light-and-shade details that they seem to reflect the artist’s state of mind.

Chen’s early painting style is one of simple, if not plain, colors, and thick black lines. By the 1960s, influenced by Abstract Expressionism and Cubism, Chen adopted a quasi-abstract style. Between 1959 and 1962, the artist broke away from Impressionism and gave several attempts on unconventional composition. This was a transitional phase for Chen, as he still focused on plein-air and still life paintings. He liked to use the black color for drafts, even leaving thick black contours on the final pictures. Chen’s artworks during this time are painted with solid, dark colors and powerful strokes. The artist delved further into the abstract in 1962. He used the collage technique to put geometric color masses into his paintings. Between 1970 and 1975, the artist looked into color masses in a reserved, rational way. However, in 1976, he broke away from two-dimensional abstract perspectives and experimented curves and lines in a more concrete way, seeking a balance between sense and sensibility. From the 1980s on, the artist adopted an even more daring style. His works are featured by strong personal emotions manifested through twirling lines, rich texture and spatial variations. His artistic world is one with a dynamic tempo and power of life, and is highly recognized by the art community.