簡永彬

Born in Keelung in 1958, he graduated from the Oriental Language and Literature Department of Tamkang University. He used to be the full-time photography editor of sinorama magazine of the Information Bureau and the photography editor of The Earth Geographic Monthly. In 1998, he founded the “Sunnygate Phototimes” to successively collect, research, and digitally collect the works of representative photographers in the development of Taiwan’s photography, and establish a metadata database for preservation, exhibition and publication. In 2013, he created his own “Insight．Taiwan” database brand, and was selected as the subsidy team of the National Culture and Arts Foundation “Arts Up Project” with the “Predecessor Photographers’ Image Asset Database Development Project”. Sorting out Taiwan’s photography culture up to now. In order to deepen and recreate the value of photography cultural assets, and to continue the foundation established by the former “Sunnygate Photo Gallery”, it has successively planned important photography exhibitions at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, which have been highly recognized. In 2017, he was hired as an associate professor in the Department of Cultural Vocation Development of National Taipei University of Technology today, and dedicated to the teaching and creation of alternative photography processes of classic techniques.

Looking for the historical coordinates of Taiwan’s photography culture

Since the French government officially announced the invention of photography in 1839, there is no doubt that “photography”, as one of the communication tools of human visual symbols, has deeply affected the bottom of human visual socialization. This important characteristic, especially in the transition of different ages, between all social and cultural activities, “photography” has replaced human vision, and indirectly planted the factor of human history and civilization spirit transmission; therefore, photography is the modern era. The pioneer of the visual transmission of culture, what it witnessed, passed down, and the pulse of the society of each era is one of the motivations for my research as a curator.

Edward Said once said: “Memory is a powerful tool to maintain a sense of identity.” Photography is an effective way of remembering national history and cultural identity beyond words; a good photo is worth a thousand words!

Not only based on the preservation of the film or the technical level, but also from the historical and cultural perspectives to nurture photographic technicians and historical scholars to establish our image history and image values.

• 2018-2019

  Co-organized Time / Theater─A Fifty-Year Retrospective Exhibition of Hwang Pai-Chi’s Photography with Taiwan Soka Association, a one-year touring exhibition of the Provincial Art and Culture Center of Taiwan Soka Association

• 2016

  In the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, he curated The Silver Halide Era─Aura of Times: Vintage Photography Prints by Taiwanese Photographers 1890s-2015 with teacher Chang Chao-Tang, and published a book

• 2015

  Entrusted by the Ministry of Culture at the “Taiwan Cultural Center” in Tokyo, Japan, to plan an exhibition of Knowing Taiwan through old photographs and hold lectures by Taiwan and Japanese scholars

• 2014-2015

  The Era Seen─The Pursuit of Image during the days of Photo Club, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan

• 2013

  Discovery of Master Photographer in Yongkang Street, Yongkang Street, Taipei, Taiwan

• 2013

  Rediscovering Deng Nanguang: A Retrospective of Photographic Classics, The Red Pavilion, Taipei, Taiwan

• 2012

  The Power of Silence─Marcel Marceau Photography Exhibition, supporting the co-organization of the Wistaria Cultural Association, Jazz Photography Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

• 2012

  Qin Kai 90+1 Photography Exhibition, sponsored and co-organized, Deming Art Gallery, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan

• 2011

  A Century of Taipei through the Eyes of “the Shutter Trio”: The Photography of Deng Nan-guang, Chang Tsai and Li Ming-tiao, Futai Street Mansion, Taipei, Taiwan

• 2011

  The Clemency of Gaze: The Photographic Artworks of Chang Tsai, Taiwan Soka Association, Taipei, Taiwan

• 2010

  In Sight: Tracing the Photography Studio Images of the Japanese Period in Taiwan, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan

• 2010

  Image Map─Chang Tsai Retrospective Photography Exhibition, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

• 2010

  Fleeing Shadows and Flowing Light─Chang Tsai’s Photography Exhibition, Liu Haisu Art Museum, Shanghai, China

• 2008

  Beauty of All Times: A Memorial Exhibition of Long Chin-San, co-organized, National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan

• 2007

  Staring Romance: Deng Nanguang Photography Retrospective, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

• 1994

  Deng Nanguang: The Buried Image, co-organized, Doi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

• 1992

  Creation of Time Image Photography Masterpiece Collection Exhibition, commissioned by Zhima Marriage Square, Taipei, Taiwan

• 1990

  The Compassion to Sui: An Exhibition of Six American Photographers, Dimensions Art Center and Fujifilm Taiwan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

• 1990

  Seeing and Farewell: Images of Nine Taiwanese Photographers, Eye Gallery, San Francisco, USA

• 1989

  Lee Shouyi Photography Solo Exhibition, co-organized, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

• 1989

  Seeing and Farewell: Images of Nine Taiwanese Photographers, Eslite Art Space, Taipei, Taiwan

• 1985-

  Nihon University College of Art, Faculty of Arts

• 1980-

  Department of Oriental Language and Literature, Tamkang University

• 2020-2021

  Appointed as the honorary consultant of ART TAIPEI by the Taiwan Art Gallery Association

• 2018-2019

  Appointed as a collection committee member of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts

• 2017

  Formally hired as an associate professor of the Department of Cultural Vocation Development of National Taipei University of Technology

• 2016-2017

  Entered the Department of Cultural Vocation Development of National Taipei University of Technology as a professional industry teacher

• 2014

  Minister of Culture Long Yingtai announced the establishment of the “National Center of Photography and Images” and selected the former Directorate General of Highways as the center. The venue is expected to open in 2021, and will be appointed as a consultant until 2020

• 2012

  Organize the “National Museum of Photography Action Coalition” with other scholars and photographers, the main purpose is to promote the Ministry of Culture to establish a national photography museum. A press conference was held in May at the Wistaria Cultural Association, and a public hearing in the Legislative Yuan.

• 2011-

  Under the influence of senior photographer Peng Ruilin, he began to delve into the early photography and invented the original transfer technique “Alternative Photography Processes” and continue to promote the concept of “Post-digital．Neo-Classic”, and have hosted various types of classical photography craftsmanship workshops in schools and societies to this day

• 1998-

  Established the “Sunnygate Phototimes” to continue the search and research of the works of local photographers by the former Sunnygate Photo Gallery

• 1998

  Two works in the collection of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum: “Dumb Lover” and “Viewer Monologue”

• 1992-

  Art Director of Sunnygate Corp

• 1991-

  Photography Consultant of the Times and Impressions photography exhibition of the Council for Cultural Affairs

• 1991-1992

  Project Assistant of Modern Chinese Art Photography Group, Traditional Research Center of National Institute of the Arts

• 1989-

  Instructor of Chinese Culture University Photography Club

• 1989-1992

  Examiner of the Photography Department of the Taiwan Museum of Art

• 1985-1988

  Head of Sunnygate Photo Gallery

• 1985-1988

  Editor-in-Chief of Photography of The Earth Geographic Monthly, instructor of Photography Club of National Taiwan Normal University

• 1984-1985

  Full-time photographer of sinorama magazine, Government Information Office

• 1982-1984

  Written and photographed by World Geography Magazine and Datong Magazine

• Articles

• 1985

  “Criticizes Chang Chaotang’s video work ‘Photographic Installation’ ”, Lion Art

• Books and Publications

• 2021

  Chien Yun-Ping: Inner Landscapes Alternative Photography Processes IV, Taichung: Da Xiang Art Space

• 2019

  Inner Landscapes: Chien Yun-Ping Alternative Photographic Processes III, published with the subsidy of the National Culture and Arts Foundation, Taipei: Wistaria Tea

• 2019

  Staring at the Age, co-author, won the OPEN BOOK Good Book Award, New Taipei: Rive Gauche

• 2017/7

  Seeing Li Huozeng─Roaming Under the Wind．Taiwan 1935-1945, authorized and directed by Sunnygate Phototimes, and edited by Wang Zuorong, Taipei: Cangbi

• 2017/6

  “Zhang Cai─Fleeing Shadows and Flowing Light, 1916-1994”, in Masters of Photography in China, Beijing: China Photography Publishing House

• 2016/7

  Co-planned The Silver Halide Era─Aura of Times: Vintage Photography Prints by Taiwanese Photographers 1890s-2015 exhibition with teacher Chang Chaotang, and a book published by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts

• 2015/10

  In Search of Photos Past: The Development of Photographic Realism on Taiwan, co-edited by Sunnygate Phototimes, and edited by Chang Chaotang, New Taipei: Walkers Cultural Enterprises. The source of this book was proposed in 1985 by Chien yun ping, a full-time photographer of the sinorama magazine of the then Government Information Office, Chang Chaotang after more than two years of writing, the teacher assembled into a volume, which was published by sinorama magazine. More than twenty years later, Chien yun ping worked together to promote the cost of the book, and it was published in simplified characters by the China National Art Publishing House in Beijing on the other side

• 2014/11

  The Era Seen─The Pursuit of Image during the days of Photo Club, as the editor-in-chief, Taipei: Xia Luyuan International

• 2013/11

  Rediscovering Deng Nan-guang: Complete Works─Collector’s Edition, as the editor-in-chief, Taipei: Xia Luyuan International. This set of books is issued in three volumns: Collector’s Edition 1 “The Japan Years, 1929-1935”, Collector’s Edition 2 “Witness to an Era, 1935s-1960s”, and Collector’s Edition 3 “Romantic Gazes, 1930s-1971”, “Minox Camera Works, 1958-1971” and “Writings”

• 2010/8

  Curating In Sight: Tracing the Photography Studio Images of the Japanese Period in Taiwan, exhibited at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, and an exhibition book published by Xia Luyuan International Co., Ltd., Chien yun ping served as the chief planner and executive editor

• 2010/3

  Curating and acting as an exhibition consultant, Image Map─Chang Tsai Retrospective Photography Exhibition, and an exhibition book published by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum

• 2008

  Invited to edit the works of Chang Tsai, a well-known senior photographer in Taiwan, for the well-known Korean publisher Youlhwadang Publishing House, and published the book Chang Ts’ai

• 2007/1

  Curating Staring Romance: Deng Nanguang Photography Retrospective exhibition, and an exhibition book published by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum

• 1990/7

  Planning the book Seeing and Farewell: Images of Nine Taiwanese Photographers, Taipei: Culture & Life

• 1989/7

  During the period of Sunnygate Photography Gallery, planned and produced the Taiwan Contemporary Photographers Series Exhibition and published PHOTO 1 Lin Shouyi 1929-1966

• 1989/10

  Celebrating the first anniversary of Sunnygate Photography Gallery, planned and produced PHOTO 2 ROBERT HEINECKEN Collection of Works 1966-1989

• 1989/5

  During the period of Sunnygate Photography Gallery, planned to assist in the publication of Poetry in the City: A Collection of Photography Works by Weng Tinghua, and Sunnygate Photography Gallery served as the general distributor

• Solo Exhibition

• 2021

  Chien Yun-Ping: Inner Landscapes Alternative Photography Processes IV, Da Xiang Art Space, Taichung

• 2019

  Inner Landscapes: Chien Yun-Ping Alternative Photographic Processes III, subsidized by the National Culture and Arts Foundation, Wistaria Tea House, Taipei

• 2016

  An Alternative Photography Processes of Chien yun ping─The Youth of Danshui 1978-1982, Futai Street Mansion, Taipei

• 2005

  Lost Memories─Chien yun ping, Arts Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu

• 2003

  Lost Memories─Lane 56, Section 3, Xinyi Road, Wistaria Tea House, Taipei

• 1984

  Monologue from the Viewfinder, Jazz Gallery, Taipei

• 1982

  The Formation of Tamsui, American Cultural Center, Taipei

• Group Exhibition

• 2015

  Participated in a group exhibition of nine Taiwanese photographers at China Dali International Film Festival

• 1990

  Seeing and Farewell: Images of Nine Taiwanese Photographers, Eye gallery, San Francisco, USA

• 1990

  Seeing and Farewell: Images of Nine Taiwanese Photographers, Eslite Art Space, Taipei

• 1988

  A State of Mind, with Lee Li Fang, American Cultural Center, Taipei

• 1986

  Portrait in the World, with Zheng Zaidong and Qiu Yacai, Fuhua Salon, Taipei

• 1982

  Street Experimental Film Festival, with F22 freelance photographer, New Park, Taipei

• Projects and researches

• 2017

  Accepted the commission of the Frank C. Chen Cultural and Educational Foundation to complete the “Digital Collection of Frank C. Chen’s Lifetime Works Research Project”

• 2014

  Approved the Ministry of Culture’s visual arts subsidy “Alternative photography Processes Craft Seed Teaching and Research Camp” project

• 2014

  Entrusted by the Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center of the Hakka Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan, completed the “Investigation of Authorized Persons for Digital Collections of Taiwanese Hakka Photographers”

• 2013-2014

  “Imagery Taiwan─Predecessor Photographers' Image Asset Database Development Project” received a subsidy from the “2013 Arts Up Project” of National Culture and Arts Foundation, and established an image database of “Imagery Taiwan”

• 2010-2011

  The second phase of the “Digital Collection Plan for Taiwanese Hakka Photographers Before 1975”, commissioned by the Preparatory Office of the Hakka Cultural Center of the Hakka Cultural Center of the Executive Yuan

• 2008-2009

  The first phase of the “Digital Collection Plan for Taiwanese Hakka Photographers Before 1975”, commissioned by the Preparatory Office of the Hakka Cultural Center of the Hakka Cultural Center of the Executive Yuan

• 2008

  Beauty of All Times: A Memorial Exhibition of Long Chin-San Scanning Project, commissioned by Yuwen, the girl of Long Chin-San

• 2007

  Started to plan to digitally scan and register the works and books of Taiwan’s first-generation photographer Chang Tsai. So far, 85% of its negatives have been scanned, and a book by Chang Tsai has been published with Youlhwadang Publishing House, the most famous art and culture category in Korea

• 2007

  Digital scanning and registration project of works, books and documents of Taiwan’s first-generation photographer Chang Tsai

• 2005

  “Deng Nanguang’s Lifetime Digital Scanning of Black and White Films” Research Project

• 1992

  “Looking for the Historical Coordinates of Taiwan’s Photographic Culture─Part 1 Photo Gallery during the Japanese Occupation Period 1895~1945” Research Project

• 1992

  “Works on the History of Taiwan Photography Development in the 20th Century” Research Project, 1991-1992

• International seminar experience in recent years

• 2017/8

  Invited by the Yuezhong Historical Image Gallery on the other side to participate in the 20th Anniversary of Old Photo Album exhibition and seminar on old photos held by Shandong Pictorial, and gave a speech at the seminar

• 2016/4

  Participated in the “ASIA PHOTO CURATORS CONTACT SEOUL 2016: From Analog Photography To Digital Photography” organized by The Museum of Photography, Seoul, Korea, and participated in various international seminars

• 2014

  Invited by the Yuezhong Historical Image Gallery on the other side, participated in the series of retrospective exhibitions of National Memory─The US National Archives Collection of WWII China-Burma-India Battlefield Images as the guest of the opening ceremony and participated in the seminar, and appointed as an Expert committee of the Yuezhong Historical Image Gallery

• 2013/5

  The National Taiwan Museum and National Taiwan University of Arts co-sponsored “Punctum: Museum Management and Empowerment of Image Collection”, and participated in the second special topic “Image Power and Empowerment” and gave a special speech