Movie stars often get the chance to strut their stuff on the red carpet and take home a glittering award, while scientists and economists can celebrate the cerebral fame of a Nobel Prize. When it comes to the fine arts, awards are few and far between.
To fill that vacuum, the Taishin Arts Award under the auspices of the Taishin Bank Foundation began handing awards to outstanding Taiwanese artists in 2002.
Awards are given in two categories: the performing arts of dance, theater and music (predominantly classical or traditional) and the visual arts. The lucky winner of each category receives publicity and a NT$1 million prize. In addition to the two major awards, there is a juror's special prize of NT$200,000. The winners receive cash prizes, medallions and certificates, plus recognition for their achievements.
The selection process involves two juries: the first comprised of a handful of invited Taiwanese journalists; the second composed of international professionals from cultural institutions.
The foundation aims to raise public awareness of local artists and performers.
On Sunday, movers and shakers of the art world, including museum and theater directors and policy makers, attended The Best of 2005 award ceremony at Zhongshan Hall.
The audience screeched in delight when the National Guo-Guang Opera Company (國立國光劇團) won the special jury award for its experimental take on Peking Opera in its performance Three Persons and Two Lamps. What made this performance noteworthy was its inclusion of the contemporary theme of individualism rather than the traditional idea of collectivism.
When artist Tang Huang-chen (湯皇珍) received the Visual Arts Award and spoke eloquently about her conceptual art project titled I Go Traveling Via Postcard with Scenery there was barely a dry eye in the house. One of the original founders of the Huashan Cultural Center, Tang has been creating compelling conceptual art for years, a pursuit that is noble, but hardly remunerative.
Cloud Gate (雲門舞集) won the Performing Arts Award for its Cursive III (行草) dance -- the work is part of a trilogy based on Chinese calligraphy.
A display of reference material on the nine nominated performances and five art exhibitions can be seen at the newly built Taishin Bank headquarters at the Renai-Dunhua circle.
Having provided support for two of the award nominees, IT Park has proven to be a vital exhibition space.
Other nominated work included Tseng Yu-ching's (曾御欽) video of somnambulistic children.
The shortlist for the Performing Arts Award included: Dance Forum Taipei (舞蹈空間舞蹈團); Rom Shing Hakka Opera Troupe (榮興客家採茶劇團); Performance Workshop (表演工作坊); New Horizon of Sounds by the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center; the Assignment Theater Group (差事劇團) and Liu Liang-yen (劉亮延).
For your information:
What: Taishin Arts Awards (2005年度五大視覺藝術)
Where: Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture, (台新銀行文化藝術基金會) 118, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市仁愛路四段118號)
On the Net: www.taishinartsaward.org.tw
When: Until May 12
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