Playwright Wang An-chi (王安祈), dancer and choreographer Lin Lee-chen (林麗珍), film director Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢), novelist Cheng Ching-wen (鄭清文) and composer Chien Nan-chang (錢南章) yesterday were named the winners of the 2005 National Award for the Arts.
The awards, to be given out by the National Culture and Arts Foundation (NCAF), were announced yesterday the winners list after a seven-month nomination and assessment process.
The National Award for Arts is the highest artistic honor in Taiwan, and each of the five winners had made significant, unique and lifelong contributions to the arts in their respective fields.
Wang has devoted herself to classical literature and traditional drama. Her works are elegant and affectionate, according to a statement released yesterday by the NCAF.
"Wang's works also stand for the temporary viewpoint and see the essence of mankind," the statement said of her work.
Dancer and choreographer Lin has combined her own life experiences and introspection to create a dance of the Eastern aesthetic tradition. Her works vividly show the artistic spirit of Taiwan, the statement said.
Film director Hou holds a lofty position in movie industry and is constantly experimenting and searching for new possibilities in his films.
"Hou's works concern humanism and Taiwanese history. He mixes reflections from the East with aloofness from the West," the statement said of his work.
Novelist Cheng has been writing stories for almost 50 years. He insists on showing his concern for Taiwanese society and inspires people to fight the nation's problems, said the statement.
Cheng praises the uniqueness of life in his writing -- and besides writing about Taiwan -- he also writes children's stories. He leads his readers to a world of magic while at the same time, he reveals his loyalty to his motherland, the NCAF statement said.
Composer Chien received the award for successfully combining the characteristics of local music with Western composition into unique pieces. His music is popular around the world and contributes to the international exchange of music, the statement said.
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