The vines which envelopes the walls of the tree-hidden house of Chin Che-fu reminds visitors of the artist's own searching feelers into an unknown world. His solemn and single-minded devotion to his work in the past 20 years has propelled him to the foremost ranks among Taiwan's artists.

Chin, a native of Shantung on the mainland prefers a regimented and austere life to the bohemian and romantic existence usually associated with artists. His paintings combine the qualities of harmony, peace, simplicity and intimacy, the perfect reflection of his personality. In line with the profuse developments in western and oriental art in recent years, new schools of painting have sprung up everywhere. During this sudden interchange of different styles, many artists lost their directions and goals. Chin, however, has stood firm in looking inwardly for his inspiration. With the aid of his brushes and paints, he has finally created a style which embodies his own character and that of his nation.

In his recent work, it can be seen that although Chin has never intentionally looked for a style, he has worked out a compromise between natural and abstract forms and the subjective and objective standpoint. His techniques have almost reached the level that all Chinese artists are aspiring toward--capturing the soul of a subject by penetrating its external appearance. With his grounding in oriental philosophy, Chin demonstrates the Chinese temperament and the essence of the Orient, though he uses Western techniques. By contemplating his works, observers feel released from the pressures and the helpless or lost feeling resulting from the mechanical advances of civilization. Taking his subjects from everyday life, he stresses neither kaleidoscopic visual effects nor a distorted natural image. From his paintings, we can see that the ideal world for an oriental painter is like a cup of tea, a bottle of old wine, a safe haven or a warm and comfortable house.

The structure of his paintings, whether a patchwork of color, a line drawing or a formal layout, is based on strict geometrical principles. But he infuses the structure with poetry and lyricism to create a lively art form that brings the spectator into contact with the basic issues.

When he was studying at the Political Warfare College, Chin was particularly interested in sketching, which greatly enhanced his ability to appreciate the significance of natural objects and to express himself. In 1957, Chin was employed by his alma mater to teach art, and it was during this period that he started to become interested in oil paintings. Lin Ke-kung, a famed artist known for his serious approach to his work, taught him not only the techniques, but also the philosophy of oil painting. After 10 years of searching, Chin had finally found a role. In addition to holding his own exhibitions, Chin also participates in national, provincial, academic and international art exhibitions and has won many medals in both oil and water color sections.

A Chinese proverb says: "To travel a thousand miles is to read a thousand books." Chin toured Europe last year, and came back even more mature and serene. In the field of painting, Chin can be likened to a long-distance runner who never stops learning, thinking and watching. "I think the process of creation is the greatest achievement of an artist," he says.