Film director Tsai Ming-liang and ink painters Liu Kuo-sung and Cheng Shan-hsi are winners of the 36th National Cultural Award, the Ministry of Culture announced Jan. 14.
Each of the winners will be presented with a certificate, medallion and NT$1 million (US$31,580) in prize money at a ceremony scheduled for March 30 in Taipei City. “All three have made remarkable contributions to their respective fields, greatly enhancing Taiwan’s cultural depth,” Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun said.
An internationally renowned director, Malaysia-born Tsai studied film and drama at Taipei’s Chinese Culture University, graduating in 1982. Since the release of his first movie “Rebels of the Neon God” in 1992, his works have become a fixture of major film festivals around the world.
Tsai has won numerous prominent awards for his feature-length films, which often reflect on the isolation of urban life. These honors include a Golden Lion (Best Picture) for “Vive L’Amour” at the Venice Film Festival in 1994, Silver Bear Special Jury Prize for “The River” at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1997, and Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for “The Wayward Cloud” at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2005.
Widely regarded as the father of modern Chinese ink painting, Liu has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an artist and educator since graduating in 1956 from the Department of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences last October, becoming the first arts scholar from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to be elected to the prestigious institution.
Cheng also studied fine arts at NTNU, graduating in 1960. He was one of the leading figures in the nativist art movement of the 1970s, earning acclaim for his works portraying folk traditions, everyday life and local landscapes. Cheng is also a noted practitioner of porcelain painting.
First conferred in 1981, the Executive Yuan’s National Cultural Award is considered the highest honor for members of Taiwan’s arts and cultural sectors, recognizing individuals across diverse fields ranging from architecture and literature to modern and traditional arts. Prior to this year, 76 people have received the award. (OC-E)
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