“ There was only one Chi Po-lin; but perhaps, everyone can be Chi Po-lin their own ways. ”
In 2013, Chi Po-lin amazed all Taiwanese with "Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE", the first aerial documentary directed and filmed by him. The masterpiece opened people’s eyes and ignited initiatives for environmental conservation. In the early summer of 2017, Chi shouldered this mission once again, and embarked on a journey propelled by his love for the land and insistence in his ideal to produce "Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE II". With an international vision this time, he hoped to establish Taiwan’s connection with the world with this new project.
However, a mere couple of days after the press conference launching the project, Chi passed away in a helicopter crash while filming in the air. The accident took away the Taiwanese aerial photography master from us, leaving behind his unfulfilled ambition. We have forever lost Chi Po-lin, the one and only in this world. While the sorrow and tears of losing Chi never end, we still remember his unfinished mission.
Consequently, to continue Chi’s dream, we have founded the Chi Po-lin Foundation to inherit his legacy and carry on with his vocation so that his spirit can take a deeper root and flourish in Taiwan.
Since its establishment, the Chi Po-lin Foundation has become Chi’s eyes to ceaselessly watch over our homeland so that the influence of his belief can expand throughout the world, and we can all become protectors of Taiwan. We look forward to your participation and support to keep Director Chi’s lifelong dream forever in flight!
The Foundation has converted the large body of aerial image works left by Chi Po-lin into a digital archive to permanently preserve the changing course of Taiwan’s geographic landscape and such precious cultural assets. Meanwhile, through the curatorial initiatives of the Chi Po-lin Museum, we have consistently promoted environmental friendliness and sustainable environment.
With the images made by Chi Po-lin as the medium, the Foundation brings together related themes to design a wide range of teaching materials, lesson plans, and lectures so that ideas and education about Taiwan’s land and environment can steadfastly take a deeper root. Through such efforts, we aim to create endless land and environment resources that can form the foundation of happiness for future generations.
The Foundation prides itself on being a platform for gathering and nurturing more Taiwanese documentary filmmakers. Together and through the active power of “cherishing the land and caring for the environment” coalesced by images, we safeguard our homeland and hope to find the next and more heroes like Chi Po-lin.
The Foundation shoulders Chi’s vocation of documenting Taiwan’s environment to persistently introduce the beauty of Taiwan to the whole world. At the same time, we endeavor in expanding the vision of caring for the land and environmental to serve as a platform of environmental protection and education, which connects Taiwan and the globe.