Taiwan Today
Date: December 4, 2015

The 2015 Taipei Original Festival kicked off Dec. 4 at Songshan Cultural

A photograph from the series” Portrait of Nature—Myriads of Gods” by Japan’s Nobuyuki Kobayashi is on display at the 2015 Taipei Original Festival Dec. 4-20 at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei City. (Courtesy of SCCP)

and Creative Park in Taipei City, showcasing participating artists’ plentiful creative energy and the metropolis’s vibrant culture and art scene.

Comprising 20 groups of artists and performers from home and abroad, the fourth edition of the eclectic event features an array of works in genres such as drama, documentary, illustration, installation, photography, and concert and dance performance.

Themed “Creator: Story,” this year’s festival comprises four exhibitions—“Dream,” “Mission,” “Persistence” and “Value”—to signify the four steps of the creative process.

“Through their works, participating artists share stories of their creative inspirations and struggles,” a park staffer said. “This is likely to arouse the creative instincts of showgoers, and they may discover their own artistic potential.”     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/03
By: Cheng Jing-wen and Lee Mei-yu

Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) Golden Horse Award-winning cinematographer Mark Lee Ping-bing (李

Mark Lee Ping-bing (李屏賓, left), photo courtesy of Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival

屏賓) has taken over as head of the Taipei Film Festival following the recent resignation of film producer Lee Lieh (李烈).

In a statement released on Thursday, the new chairperson said he will defend the independence of the annual film festival from a filmmaker’s stance.

Lee has worked for a long time with Taiwan’s well-known director Hou Hsiao-hsien, including on his latest film “The Assassin.” The film won a number of awards at Taiwan’s recent Golden Horse Film Festival, including for best cinematography.

Lee said he will stop doing some of his filming jobs so he can throw himself into the Taipei Film Festival.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: November 27, 2015

The 71-year-old legendary dancer-cum-choreographer Liao Mo-shi is returning to

Dancer Liao Mo-shi (center), 71, will play the lead in “Blossom of Phoenix Flowers” Nov. 28 at Tainan Municipal Cultural Center after a 16-year medical hiatus. (Courtesy of Liao Mo-shi)

the stage in a performance Nov. 28 at Tainan Municipal Cultural Center in southern Taiwan.

Born in 1944, Liao choreographed her first dance at age 13 and created 400-plus works in genres such as ballet, modern and jazz during her 42-year career. Osteoarthritis forced her to walk away from the spotlight in 1999.

“While teaching my students over the past years, I felt like my enthusiasm for dance was ignited again,” Liao said. “The call was so strong that I decided to follow in the footsteps of my mentor Tsai Jui-yueh and Martha Graham.” Tsai was a contemporary dance trailblazer in Taiwan while Graham was a U.S. master who continued dancing until the age of 78.

Well-known for experiments that bring together elements of literature, music and fine art, Liao also incorporates local cultural aspects into her choreography.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: November 26, 2015

The winners of a creative design competition were unveiled Nov. 24 by Taipei

NPM unveils winners of creative design competitionA set of sauce dishes and chopstick holders by Liao Ting-wan inspired by a porcelain vase from the Ming dynasty is the winner of the Daily Items category in a creative design competition celebrating NPMSB’s trial operations Dec. 28 in Chiayi County. (Courtesy of NPM)

City-based National Palace Museum, which is currently celebrating its 90th anniversary and the upcoming trial operations of the institution’s southern branch Dec. 28 in Chiayi County.

Themed around the new NPMSB structure and pieces planned for the 10 opening exhibits, the competition was comprised of three categories, namely Daily Items, Figures and Illustrations. The winners have been awarded a cash prize of NT$80,000 (US$2,450), NT$50,000 and NT$20,000, respectively.

The top prize in the Daily Items category went to Liao Ting-wan, who designed a set of sauce dishes and chopstick holders inspired by a porcelain vase with dragon patterns hailing from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) in the museum’s collection.

While the dinnerware’s concave shape contrasts with the outward curves of the original vase, the set is for practical use when dining on dumplings and dim sum.

The Figure prize was earned by Li Chih-wei, whose leaf and flower decorations resemble that of a two-handled jade urn made in the Mogul Empire (1526-1857), which spanned from what is today southern India through central Afghanistan.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: November 24, 2015

The Masterpieces—Contemporary Crafts Collection exhibition kicked off Nov. 21

A ceramic artwork by Su Shih-hsiung featuring multi-layered blue glazes is on display at the Masterpieces— Contemporary Crafts Collection exhibition Nov. 21 to April 14 at the NTCRI’s Taipei branch. (Courtesy of NTCRI)

at the Taipei branch of the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, celebrating the opening of the new division and highlighting the vibrancy of Taiwan’s crafts sector.

Separated into two sections, the five-month event features a collection of artworks comprising ceramics, metal sculptures and woodcarvings by nearly 50 prestigious artists, as well as a display of 30 creative pieces inspired by traditional folk objects.

“The event pays tribute to the tireless efforts of these artists over many years, and their contributions to helping shape the national artistic landscape,” an NTCRI official said. “In addition, the department store-like layout of the exhibition space is certain to generate interest and attract more visitors.”

Highlighted artists include ceramist Su Shih-hsiung, winner of the 2010 National Crafts Achievement Award. Su specializes in carved glaze works, which are initially shaped by wheel-throwing before being fired in a kiln at 800 degrees Celsius. After applying layers of color to the pieces, the artist carves, cuts and burnishes his works before once again firing them, creating varied patterns and rich hues with an embossed effect.

WHAT LIES BENEATH:Cheng Shiu University’s art center is showing 75 of the Taiwanese artist’s works, alongside X-rays of some of them showing what he painted over

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 23, 2015
By: Huang Hsu-lei and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

X-ray tests on scores of paintings by renowned Taiwanese artist Chen Cheng-po

A painting of Chiayi Park, left, by Taiwanese artist Chen Cheng-po is displayed on Friday in the art center at Cheng Shiu University in Kaohsiung, along with an X-ray image of a painting of two nudes that is concealed beneath the painting. Photo: Huang Hsu-lei, Taipei Times

(陳澄波) have found that more than 20 have another painting below the surface of the canvas.

Seventy-five paintings by Chen went on exhibition at Cheng Shiu University’s art center in Kaohsiung on Wednesday — with X-ray scans next to several of them, showing the hidden artwork under their surfaces.

The center sent the paintings to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s Kaohsiung branch to be X-rayed for study, and at least 22 underpaintings were found.

University arts maintenance and restoration center director Lee Yi-cheng (李益成) said the many of paintings uncovered by the scans were nudes of women.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/11/22
By: Christie Chen

Taipei, Nov. 21 (CNA) Tang Dynasty martial arts film “The Assassin” (刺客聶隱娘) by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢) bagged the Golden Horse Award for best feature film on Saturday, giving the film a total of five awards at the ceremony in Taipei.

“The Assassin,” which led the nominations with 11 nods, came away with best feature film, best director, best cinematography, best makeup and costume design, and best sound effects at the ceremony, Taiwan’s equivalent of the Oscars.

Even though Hou has won three Golden Horse best director awards, including Saturday night’s victory, it is the first time that he has won a Golden Horse best feature film award.     [FULL  STORY]