Seven folk arts masters, from hand puppetry, Taiwanese opera, comic dialogue, seal engraving to lionhead-making, were honored by the Taipei City Government yesterday for their persistence and dedication in preserving traditional arts.
The inaugural Taipei City Master of Traditional Arts Awards were presented by Taipei City's Department of Cultural Affairs to give public recognition to the artists and promote the traditional arts.
One of the masters who received an award, Chen Xi-huang (陳錫煌), is the son of legendary puppeteer Li Tien-lu (李天祿). Hsu Wang (許王) and Chung Jen-pi (鍾任壁), who also won awards, have all played key roles in the history of hand puppet shows in Taiwan with their lifelong dedication to making hand puppets and the study of hand puppet performances.
Another artist, 65-year-old Liao Te-liang (廖德良), is well-known for his exquisite seal engraving works. Studying the art of engraving seals since the age of 18, Liao blended the techniques he learned from different schools and also became an accomplished stone appraiser over the years.
Liao said seal engraving is a disappearing craft as it requires a lot of physical strength and fine stones are becoming harder to find.
“I still cut my hands sometimes when engraving the seal, and few people want to endure the hardship and learn the skills nowadays. We need to try harder to preserve this traditional art,” he said, urging the government to put more effort into the promotion of traditional arts.
Other artists who received awards included Chen Sheng (陳剩), a famous Taiwanese opera performer, 96-year-old lion head maker Hong Lai-wang (洪來旺) and Wu Zhao-nan (吳兆南), a cross-talk master.
An exhibition on the works of the seven masters is being held at the Ximen Red House from 11am to 9pm until April 23. The Department of Cultural Affairs will also invite different awarded masters to share their experience with the public on Saturdays from April 17 to June 26 at Taipei Cultural Center.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS