A virtual pavilion featuring the works of Taiwanese artists is being presented by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair this year, the agency said on Saturday.
The Italy-based event is not only a platform dedicated to the international children’s book trade, but also leads the latest trends in global illustration, the agency said.
In its 59th year, the fair is to be held online from today through Thursday, it said.
Curated by TAICCA, the theme of the Taiwan Pavilion is “To live is to create.”
The key visual of the online presentation was designed by illustrator and designer Croter Hung (洪添賢), the agency said, adding that 298 publications recommended by 64 publishers are displayed in the virtual pavilion.
“This year, we’re not only promoting Taiwan’s illustration and publishing industries to the world, but also incorporating cross-industry collaboration,” TAICCA chief executive officer Lee Ming-che (李明哲) said.
Taiwanese children’s books and illustrations have performed exceptionally at this year’s fair, the agency said.
Lin Lian-en’s (林廉恩) Home, published by the Papa Publishing House, received the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award in the fiction category, it said.
Animo Chen’s (阿尼默) Love Letter (情批), published by Locus Publishing, received special mention in the poetry category of the Bologna Ragazzi Award, it said.
This year’s official selection at the fair includes 77 artists selected from among 3,235 applicants, it said.
Eight of them are Taiwanese: Chang Hsiao-chi (張筱琦), Huang Yu-chen (黃右禎), Hsueh Hui-yin (薛慧瑩), Huang Yi-wen (黃一文), Cho Pei-hsin (卓霈欣), Dai Wei-chun (戴維君), Chen Yi-chin (陳怡今) and Chen Wei-hsuan (陳瑋璿), it said.
Two other Taiwanese artists — Poppy Li (李品萱) and Chang Tzu-chun (張梓鈞) — were featured in the “Children Spectators” section, it said, adding that they were among 35 illustrators who won a competition to be included this year.
The agency said that it is partnering with the Animation and Visual Effects Association to promote the featured artists with a series of short animations, which can be found on TAICCA’s YouTube channel.
The Taiwan Pavilion can be visited online at https://taiwan-bcbf.taicca.tw/2021/.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese director Joe Hsieh’s (謝文明) animated film Night Bus won the short film category of the Grand Competition at Animafest Zagreb in Croatia on Saturday.
The 20-minute Night Bus tells the story of a necklace being stolen on a bus ride along the coast and a subsequent fatal accident.
Hsieh said that he restarted making the short film after working with Hong Kong director Yonfan (楊凡), because the experience taught him the importance of detail.
He said that the film uses Mandarin and Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese) to reflect real life in Taiwan, adding that Hoklo adds emotion and charm to the animation.
As Animafest Zagreb is on the list of qualifying festivals for the Oscars, Hsieh’s latest win gives him the opportunity to compete in next year’s Academy Awards.
Additional reporting by CNA
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man