Outstanding young Taiwan potters honored by NPM

2015/10/14

The winners of Taiwan Young Pottery Artist Award and Biennale were unveiled Oct. 2 by Taipei City-based National Palace Museum, further strengthening the traditional art form’s foundations countrywide.

Top honors went to Lin Po-yu, Liu Hsiu-ju, Tien Hsin-i, Tsai Pei-ju and Wu Yu-pei, who beat out 19 other artists culled from a 75-strong field producing four submissions apiece. The five talents each collected cash prizes of NT$250,000 (US$7,678), with all finalists invited to take part in training courses and in-depth forums conducted by NPM.

Award judge Liu Chen-chou, a professor of crafts and design at National Taiwan University of Arts, said the event encourages youth creativity and serves as a platform for sharpening skills and conducting exchanges. “We cherish and value Taiwan’s young ceramic artists, and hope to continue nurturing and encouraging them to shine on the global stage.”

One of the highlights of the awarded pieces is “Flower of Paramita (Orchid)” by Lin. It combines the image of a flower and animal skeleton, representing the ultimate form of life on Earth.

Fellow judge Tsai Mei-fen, also chief curator of NPM’s Department of Antiquities, said the work boasts a warm texture characterized by refined artistry. “Lin took full advantage of the malleability of clay to give life to his vision of an ideal organism.”

Equally impressive is “Back to Atlantis-1” by Liu, showcasing the balance between spirituality and physical form. Inspired by the legendary island or continent of Atlantis, the widely praised artist employs modern techniques in creating a sense of contrast in her thought-provoking piece.

Another offering striking a chord with the judges is “Proof of Existence-2” by Tsai. Its alien-like exoskeleton of a deceased insect prompts viewers to ponder the existence of the afterlife.

“The multilayered appearance of this abstract creation speaks volumes on the meaning of life and fleeting nature of our time on this planet,” Tsai Mei-fen said, adding that it faithfully embodies the artist’s comprehensive skill set.

All 96 ceramics by the 24 finalists are on display until Oct. 25 in Exhibition Area 2 at NPM.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237685&ctNode=2194&mp=9)