In 1938, when the first Fine Arts Exhibition of the Government-General of Taiwan was held, 20% of the artists whose works were selected were from Chiayi. The Japanese-language Taiwan Daily News ran a story with the headline “Chiayi Is the City of Paintings,” a sobriquet which has lasted to the present day.
The burning of waste materials continues to release dioxins, which are persistent pollutants, into the environment. Many everyday products still contain formaldehyde, a Group 1 carcinogen. Increasing demand for and use of plastics and other polymer-based materials, which are both inexpensive and the source of the majority of these two pollutants, have worsened the damage to the environment. Are there no alternatives? Taiwan’s Mega Master Technology Co. argues that there are.
Taiwan Panorama first interviewed Ben Chen in 2007. At that time, the smartly dressed CEO of Moxa Technologies was wielding a good deal of influence in the business world. More than ten years on, Chen has left his job as a top manager, established a foundation named after his parents, and gained a foothold in the cultural and creative industries. Crossing over from technology to the cultural field, Chen’s identity and mentality have undergone a sea change.
“The smaller things are, the more crucial they are to keeping the world turning.” Sha Yang Ye Industrial Corporation’s micro-geared motors power bone drills for the US military, door locks in Tesla electric cars, and sunroofs in BMW vehicles. In recent years, Sha Yang Ye has also moved into the robotics arena and explored AI-related business opportunities to secure its leading position in the global marketplace.
Time glides on, and life’s curtain rises and falls, while the stars keep eternal watch in the heavens. A single backward glance makes everything clear. In contact improvisation, she has found enlightenment.
A grinding wheel—or “sand wheel” in Chinese—is neither a wheel made from sand nor a big-wheeled steamship that transports sand, but rather a tool that grinds or cuts a variety of materials such as plastic, wood, and steel. And Kinik Company (formerly China Grinding Wheel Corp.) is not a state-owned enterprise of Taiwan or of mainland China, but rather a privately owned company with a traditional manufacturing background, based in Yingge, New Taipei City.
Beams and pillars from old homes, junk washboards, industrial scraps—these bits of trash are treasure in the eyes of Made Sukariawan. With his woodcarving tools, he turns all of this junk into exquisite works of art. The grain of the wood becomes wrinkles on an elephant’s trunk, the dry bark the beard of Yue Lao, the Chinese god of marriage and love. Made takes imperfections and makes masterpieces.
Good translations not only convey literal meanings but also capture subtle overtones. Many people think of translation as a charming métier. But what do professional translators, who navigate different linguistic worlds effortlessly, do in their daily lives? Why did they choose to become translators? What kind of life do they live? What challenges do they have to tackle?
Taiwan has music festivals all year round, and forests, beaches, cities and historic districts can all play host to performance stages. Unique natural and cultural surroundings are not only part of the show, they are also an excellent way to brand Taiwan music for an international audience.
For many of us, work is a matter of busting our backsides just to get by. But there are others for whom work is not only something they enjoy but a whole way of life. Banknote engraver Sun Wen-hsiung is one such lucky soul. After spending some 50 years working for the Central Engraving and Printing Plant, the skills he developed in the course of his career became more than just work for him, to the point that even in his retirement he continues to put them to creative use.
