Representative Francis Kuo-Hsin Liang opened with much fanfare the art exhibition, “Taiwan in Full Bloom: Contemporary Arts of Taiwan”, at the Ion Art Gallery on 19 October 2018. Organized by the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore, the exhibition saw the attendance of over 120 personalities from the arts, academia and media in Singapore.
In his address, Representative Francis Liang mentioned that since 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been collaborating with the Ministry of Culture to promote the works of Taiwanese contemporary artists by providing opportunities for exposure and exhibition of their artworks to audiences outside of Taiwan. In line with the “New Southbound Policy, the exhibition is held in Singapore, an important New Southbound Policy partner country and a key gateway to Southeast Asia. Through the exhibition, as well as various dialogues and exchanges in Singapore, Taiwanese artists have had the opportunity to engage and interact with artists from Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.
The “Taiwan in Full Bloom: Contemporary Arts of Taiwan” exhibition contains some 35 works by 32 young contemporary artists from Taiwan’s “Art Bank” program. Under the “Art Bank” program, the Ministry of Culture purchases artworks from budding Taiwanese artists and these works are leased, not sold to government agencies and private organizations for display in public areas. The “Art Bank” program, therefore, makes it possible for members of the public to appreciate art without the need to enter a museum. Now in its fifth year, the “Art Bank” program has purchased close to 2,000 works from over 1,000 artists, and over half of its collection are out on lease.
Taiwan is a favorite destination of many Singaporeans. Last year, Taiwan recorded over 425,000 visitors from Singapore. Representative Francis Liang took the opportunity to urge visitors from Singapore to look out for the Art Bank artworks on display at Taiwan’s public buildings and spaces, including at its airports, hotels and banks, the next time they are in Taiwan.
The “Taiwan in Full Bloom: Contemporary Arts of Taiwan” exhibition will be running till 28 October 2018. From 30 October 2018 onward, the artworks will be on display at the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore for a year.
Over 120 personalities from the arts, academia and media in Singapore were at the opening of the “Taiwan in Full Bloom: Contemporary Arts of Taiwan” exhibition.
“Taiwan in Full Bloom: Contemporary Arts of Taiwan” exhibition featured 35 works by 32 young contemporary Taiwanese artists.
“Taiwan in Full Bloom: Contemporary Arts of Taiwan” exhibition provides a flavor of the many facets of contemporary Taiwanese art.