MOC announces 3 winners of National Cultural Award

2022/01/20

Taiwan’s highest creative prize, the National Cultural Award, was granted to poet Li Min-yung, conductor Lu Shao-chia and lacquer artist Wang Ching-shuang, according to the Ministry of Culture Jan. 18.
 
Li, who cut his teeth in poetry circles in the late 1960s and later stepped into fiction, essays, literary reviews and translations, was awarded the National Award for Arts by the Taipei City-based National Culture and Arts Foundation in 2007. The 75-year-old poet is well-known for his advocacy for social issues and public affairs and made significant contributions to the establishment of the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum.
 
Lu, who has received prizes at renowned international conductor competitions held in Italy and the Netherlands, impressed the international music community while conducting the Munich Philharmonic in Taiwan in 1994. The 62-year-old was music director of the National Symphony Orchestra from 2010 to 2020, during which time he led the group to perform in cities including Berlin, Milan, Paris and Tokyo. He is now the NSO Conductor Emeritus.
 
Wang, who studied the lacquer painting in Japan, is known for the “maki-e” embossing method that employs metallic powder to give flat motifs and figures more volume and texture. Winner of a national cultural heritage preservation award in 2014, 100-year-old Wang was also awarded the Order of Brilliant Star by the President in 2016.
 
Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te said the award is deserved recognition for Li, Lu and Wang’s outstanding achievements and contributions to local culture. Their lifelong dedication to promoting the arts and raising Taiwan’s international profile is deeply appreciated, he added.
 
Established in 1980, the NCA is organized by the Cabinet and MOC. This year’s winners each received a certificate, a medallion and NT$1 million (US$36,249) in prize money.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)