PAST

Interpretation and sharing - a crossover dialogue of visuals and other senses Since its inception in 2002, Taishin Arts Awards has been annually recognizing and showcasing the most innovative, breakthrough professional achievements and art exhibitions that epitomize the authentic spirit of Taiwan. In 2013, in response to the trend of crossovers in contemporary art, the categorization of visual arts and performing arts was eliminated, breaking down the classification barriers in the selection and awarding. ARTalks, an open online platform, was created by inviting experts and scholars, who have long been dedicated to the development of contemporary art, to be nominators and to visit the exhibitions in person to provide independent observations. “Spirit of the times”, “cultural awareness” and “future-proof” underscore the selection criteria, where the broader perspective unlocks the limitations of art categorization. A total of ten to fifteen finalists are shortlisted, essentially opening crossover dialogues and infinite possibilities. Next, a Review Committee, consisting of representatives of directors from the Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture, eminent experts and critics and chair of the nominators, further deliberates and votes on the Top Five Exhibitions. The final selection is decided by a panel consisting of two international and three domestic jurors, who would cherry-pick the annual award winner. It is hoped that engaging public participation can inspire discourse, as the annual nomination and art criticism get people involved in arts. Coupled with a professional and rigorous selection mechanism, the Awards serve as a platform in the affirmation and recognition of Taiwan’s outstanding artistic achievements. This year’s Top Five Exhibitions are Altering Nativism—Sound Cultures in Post-War Taiwan by TheCube Project Space, Long River by WCdance, An Ucanny Tomorrow by Yuan Goang-Ming, Home: Records of the Hongmaogang Village Relocation by Chen Po-I, The Monk From Tang Dynasty by Tsai Ming-Liang. They are prime examples of the continuous crossover exploration of an artist’s creative consciousness in the pursuit of fusing tradition with innovation. Standing at the intersection of social practice and action of care, the narrative of the diverse artistic vocabulary breaks free the shackles of art forms, revealing the reflexive dialectic of contemporary art in confronting life experiences and social culture, while summoning memories and the strength of traditional togetherness. This curated exhibition attempts to re-imagine time and visual space. The original artistic exhibitions are detached and recreated to a certain extent, where the museum space becomes a newborn medium embodying the artists’ bodily experience and the re-emergence of aesthetics, unfurling a myriad of different perspectives and practices. In the curatorial process of contemporary arts, we want more than visual rhetoric, hence begins the focus on how viewers can be a part of the mutual dialogue from their perception with the art space, motivating the formation of artistic context and its interpretation. “Interpretation” and “sharing” are the highlights of this year’s Taishin Arts Awards Exhibition. Synchronous display in a meticulously configured open space layout showcases and re-constructs the artworks, guiding viewers to interpret and share their own artistic perspective with the artists. Built on “listening”, “reflection”, “expression” and “sharing”, the exhibition encourages viewers to journey back to the basics and explore the essence of the senses. An open rapport and dialogue is alive between the viewers and artists, as is the harmonious artistic intimacy crossing over time and space. We wish viewers to not just visually “see” the artworks, but use other senses to “hear” and “feel” the artistic practice and creation process relayed by the artists. This return to the purest self makes one reflect on their life experiences and social culture—a dialogue unique to each viewer.