This month we tell the stories of the seven winners of the 24th National Awards for Arts. These individuals have spent their lives pursuing their ideals and telling Taiwan’s stories to the world in many different ways.
First we have Yu Kan-ping, a film director for more than half a century, whose works have consistently focused on marginal groups in society. Since the 1990s he has spent much time in Indigenous communities, trying to record their disappearing traditions. He has also donated images collected over 40-plus years to the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, to preserve a visual record of Taiwan.
Second is Chien Hsueh-yi, an architectural designer for more than 40 years. We visit some of his classic buildings, including the Yingge Ceramics Museum, the National Museum of Taiwan History, and the NTU Humanities Building.
Next comes Taiwanese Opera performer Wang Jin-ying, who has been involved in every important new development in this genre, and now at age 81 devotes herself to editing long-forgotten scripts and teaching core skills to the next generation.
The youngest of this year’s award winners is choreographer Lin Wen-chung, who combines traditional and modern influences in works such as Small Nanguan and The Shelter. His choreography has continually honed new landscapes for Taiwan dance.
Composer Lo Leung-fai has been a leader in the development of Chinese orchestral music in Taiwan. His compositions appeal to both refined and popular tastes, and have helped train countless musicians to play traditional Chinese instruments.
Writer Wu Ming-yi’s works have transcended genre boundaries, combining Taiwan’s natural environment and history with contemporary issues to create a dialogue between Taiwan and the world. He embodies the complex aesthetics of Taiwanese literature.
Finally, we interview 98-year-old artist Lee Zai-qian. His public artwork Minimal to Infinite, made more than 50 years ago, blends Asian philosophy and Western geometric abstraction. More recently, his art has focused on tragic environmental developments such as pollution and landslides.
In this issue we also bring you a story about the Danjiang Bridge, a new landmark in Northern Taiwan. This single-tower asymmetric cable-stayed bridge fits in well with the local scenery. It is designed to withstand high winds and earthquakes, and has been constructed with ecological protection and the preservation of cultural heritage in mind.
I hope that every time you read Taiwan Panorama, you will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the vitality of this land!
