Cambodia achieved independence from French colonial rule in 1953. Its king, Norodom Sihanouk, subsequently promoted the country’s modernization, leading to a brief political and economic golden age. Sadly, the Khmer Rouge destroyed everything built in this period during its 1975–1979 reign.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “In our world we tend to be blind to our connection until times of great disaster. We find we start caring about people in Timbuktu, whom we’ve never met… and yet we pour out our hearts. We give resources to help them because we realize that we are bound up together. We are bound up and can be human only together.”

In 2014, when planning for the Tai­chung World Flora Exposition was still in its embryonic stage, the intention was to host the event at ­Houli Park. However, surveys of the area revealed the presence of the protected leopard cat, and so the Tai­chung City Government abandoned their original plans as they would have encroached on the animal’s habitat.

Confucianism has weathered tough times over the course of history to remain at the core of ethnic Chinese culture, promoting societal harmony and social progress.

“The ultimate effect of social transformation in the Tang and Song dynasties was the expansion of the common people’s power.” So remarked Dr. Yoshinobu Shiba, winner of the third Tang Prize in Sinology, in an exclusive interview with Taiwan Panorama. The power of the common people repelled raids by barbarians, thus allowing for the cultural achievements of the Tang and Song dynasties, he explains.

The selection process for the first Taiwan Light Environment Award, whose results will be revealed at the end of 2018, has a special significance. Organized by the Coretronic Culture and Arts Foundation, the scope of entries includes all public cultural facilities completed within the past five years, with the evaluation criteria extending from lighting to the environment.

The art of photography has long been the one most tied to everyday life, from portraits and street shots to landscapes. However, while it can create spectacular scenes, its lack of linguistic explication has traditionally left viewers to guess at what those scenes mean. As a result, photographer after photographer has come up with ideas for how to best help those viewers appreciate the deeper meanings of the images and share in the appreciation of the art.

The 30 years from the 1970s through the 1990s are perhaps just a fleeting moment in terms of long-term historical development. But for Taiwan and its outlying islands, which are part of the global fabric, they were a critical time.

The second half of 2008 is an exciting time for photography in Taiwan. From north to south, a series of photography festivals have been organized, both by private-­sector groups and by government. They offer both international perspectives and local cross-disciplinary activities, and feature both established masters and up-and-coming practitioners. This year’s events present a feast for the eyes, aiming to serve up diverse perspectives that stimulate society’s imagination.

Books have become an important medium for displaying photographs, and crucial to establishing their subjectivity. In this era of dime-a-dozen online images and fragmented online information, the organization, perspective and impetus to debate that books provide continue to serve as the foundation for discourse about Taiwanese photography.