An art exhibition featuring a painting showing former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) interacting with former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe “in heaven” is to be held by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, Taiwan’s de facto embassy in the country.
The exhibit, the first in Japan for Taiwanese painter Chiu Kuei (邱貴), is to be held at the office’s Taiwan Cultural Center in Tokyo from Nov. 15 to Dec. 14.
Chiu, who organized a memorial photograph exhibition and concert for Abe in Tainan last year, said there was an outpouring of grief over the Japanese leader’s assassination on July 8 last year, with Taiwan feeling the loss of a true friend.
Photo courtesy of Chiu Kuei’s project team arranger Miki Chang
Chiu said that Abe became a subject for her after the Japanese politician two years ago expressed support for the nation by saying that “a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency.”
The painting of Lee and Abe — former heads of state who shared a storied friendship — playing go was a celebration of the friendship between Taiwan and Japan, she said, adding that the iconic mountains of Yushan and Fuji are the backdrop.
Lee passed away on July 30, 2020, aged 97.
Photo courtesy of Chiu Kuei’s project team arranger Miki Chang
Chiu said she started painting about nine years ago to relieve stress, adding that most of her works portray rustic landscapes and the folk culture of Taiwan.
The scenes she paints are often from her childhood memories or depict historical figures who made a positive impact on Taiwan, Chiu said.
One painting showcased at the exhibition is of Japanese hydraulic engineer Yoichi Hatta, who was responsible for building some of Taiwan’s most important public projects in the early 20th century, including the Wushantou Reservoir (烏山頭水庫) in Tainan’s Guantian District (官田).
Chiu is chairwoman of the Yoichi Hatta Cultural Foundation.
The exhbition’s largest painting, entitled Painting No. 100, depicts a religious feast at a temple, showing more than 100 guests, a chef worrying over a large skillet and dogs running under the table.
POLAM KOPITIAM CASE: Of the two people still in hospital, one has undergone a liver transplant and is improving, while the other is being evaluated for a liver transplant A fourth person has died from bongkrek acid poisoning linked to the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday, as two other people remain seriously ill in hospital. The first death was reported on March 24. The man had been 39 years old and had eaten at the restaurant on March 22. As more cases of suspected food poisoning involving people who had eaten at the restaurant were reported by hospitals on March 26, the ministry and the Taipei Department of Health launched an investigation. The Food and
The long-awaited Taichung aquarium is expected to open next year after more than a decade of development. The building in Cingshui District (清水) is to feature a large ocean aquarium on the first floor, coral display area on the second floor, a jellyfish tank and Dajia River (大甲溪) basin display on the third, a river estuary display and restaurant on the fourth, and a cafe and garden on the fifth. As it is near Wuci Fishing Port (梧棲漁港), many are expecting the opening of the aquarium to bring more tourism to the harbor. Speaking at the city council on Monday, Taichung City Councilor
A fourth person has died in a food poisoning outbreak linked to the Xinyi (信義) branch of Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in Taipei, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said on Monday. It was the second fatality in three days, after another was announced on Saturday. The 40-year-old woman experienced multiple organ failure in the early hours on Monday, and the family decided not to undergo emergency resuscitation, Wang said. She initially showed signs of improvement after seeking medical treatment for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but her condition worsened due to an infection, he said. Two others who
Taiwanese should be mindful when visiting China, as Beijing in July is likely to tighten the implementation of policies on national security following the introduction of two regulations, a researcher said on Saturday. China on Friday unveiled the regulations governing the law enforcement and judicial activities of national security agencies. They would help crack down on “illegal” and “criminal” activities that Beijing considers to be endangering national security, according to reports by China’s state media. The definition of what constitutes a national security threat in China is vague, Taiwan Thinktank researcher Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) said. The two procedural regulations are to provide Chinese