“When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” These words provide an apposite description of the year 2020. Throughout this year, Covid-19 has caused economies across the world to shrink. Lockdowns, social distancing rules, canceled flights, and other anti-coronavirus measures have dealt a crushing blow to many industries, giving rise to a wave of job losses. Creative artists are bearing the brunt because of the cancellation of income-generating events and performances.
Over the 45 years since its founding, Taiwan Panorama has experienced many changes. Looking back, we see transformations in the landscape both physical and political, but what never changes is how Taiwan brims with warmth and humanity. From here we look out at the world, while also helping the world fall in love with our beautiful island.
“Shubh Dipawali!” Happy Festival of Lights! Taiwanese and Indians together celebrated Diwali (or Dipawali), the Indian New Year Festival of Lights, on November 13, 2020 at the Taipei Guest House. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, rows of lamps were lit and colorful rangoli floor art was used to welcome the god of wealth and symbolize the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
When people talk of Daxi, the first things that come to mind are dried tofu, marinated until it is dark and glossy, and beautiful, heavy rosewood furniture. However, these past few years the little town has been redefining itself with “Daxi studies,” exuding a new vitality and charm that are attracting travelers from all over.
For fiber artist Chen Shu-yen, weaving is ubiquitous. Using local materials and traditional techniques, she and her husband Tuwak Tuyaw, a bamboo and rattan artist of the Kavalan people, have created lamps by inserting light sources into traditional sanku fish traps. The lamps beautifully project light and shadows through the structure of the traps.
Taiwan Provincial Highway 26 is a coastal road that circumnavigates the Hengchun Peninsula. Cycling along it, on one side you see the bright blue sky merging into the ocean, while on the other there are towering green mountain ridges. When you ride into small towns and wander around, it feels like opening an unread page in Taiwan’s history. Multiple ethnic groups have interacted in this area, leaving behind precious historical relics and stories.
Founded by artist Dondon Hounwn, Elug Art Corner seeks to reinforce the cultural heritage of Hualien’s Dowmung Community by collecting traditional ballads and myths. It also strives to carve out a future for the community by inviting visiting artists to engage with traditional tribal craftsmanship.
The global spread of Covid-19 in 2020 has severely impacted global economic development and human security. However, in our currently tumultuous world, the announcement of the 4th Tang Prizes is encouraging news, especially as the Tang Prize in Rule of Law was for the first time awarded to three non-governmental organizations, based in Bangladesh, Lebanon, and Colombia.
The following words appeared on the Facebook page of the Bulareyaung Dance Company, in the Paiwan language: “Returning home is a continuation of a complete life, so Bulareyaung is opening the door.” This marked the opening of a rehearsal space following choreographer Bulareyaung Pagarlava’s return to Taitung to pursue his dreams.
Not all dreams are especially ambitious, but having the courage to make your dream a reality is a great accomplishment. Since it was launched by the National Immigration Agency in 2015, the “Dream-Building Program for New Immigrants and Their Children” has so far benefited more than 250 people.Taiwan is a diverse, welcoming country, with a friendly atmosphere in which people from all over can grow up happily, confidently contribute to society, and shine with the light of wellbeing.
