Taipei City unveils winners of culture award

2015/08/26

Legend Lin Dance Theater and Taipei Ling-an Club are winners of the 19th Taipei Culture Award, according to the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs Aug. 24.

“Both troupes are honored for their long-term efforts in promoting the richness of local culture and enhancing public participation in arts-focused activities,” a DCA official said. “They outshone a strong field of 39 individual and group candidates to claim the award.”

LLDT, founded by artistic director and choreographer Lin Lee-chen, was recognized for performances balancing the aesthetics of space and pace of life with relations between the environment, people and tradition.

The group’s standout productions include the 14-year trilogy comprising “Mirror of Life,” “Anthem to the Fading Flowers” and “Song of Pensive Beholding,” which debuted in 2009 and brought to an end the tale of rapaciousness centered on two brothers viewed through the prism of the tribal eagle myth.

“Such a piece represents the essence of Lin’s life experiences and epitomizes the spiritual boundaries of art,” the official said. “She also broaches Eastern philosophy and indigenous traditions within a contemplative framework of symbolism.”

Equally impressive are the contributions to the local cultural scene of Beiguan musical group Taipei Ling-an Club. Established in 1871, the outfit is the oldest of its kind in Taiwan and is registered by the city as an intangible cultural heritage.

Beiguan is one of the main traditional music genres in Taiwan and is characterized by the use of cymbals, drums, gongs and woodwind instruments.

The club also features prominently in the birthday parade of Xia-hai City God Temple on the 13th day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar—an event paying respects to the deities tasked with escorting the spirits of the dead.

“Despite declining interest in aspects of ethnic Chinese culture, the group is on the frontline in maintaining the relevance of traditional religious worship and even played a part in last year’s local box-office hit ‘Twa-Tiu-Tiann’ about the procession,” the official added.

Launched in 1997, Taipei Culture Award commends creative talents who help enrich the city’s cultural scene through artistic endeavors.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=234211&ctNode=413)