Taiwanese art has been receiving a great deal of public attention in the past two years. Huang Tu-shui’s marble sculpture Water of Immortality, which portrays a female nude, saw the light of day again after nearly half a century. It was designated a “national treasure” in February 2023.
In Taiwanese households, there is an essential cooking ingredient that is always stocked alongside soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. It’s not fermented bean sauce, XO sauce, chili sauce, or fermented bean curd, but rather, shacha sauce.
Sold in metal tins or glass jars, shacha sauce looks dark brown and shiny. When eaten, it has a sandy, fibrous mouthfeel. Although its contents remain a mystery to many, its salty, umami flavor has captured the hearts of Taiwanese people.
Sula Sukinadrimi, a member of the Rukai indigenous people from Pingtung County’s Wutai Township, long ago left his job as a public servant and followed his elders into the mountain forests to plant native Taiwanese tree species. For the past 40 years he has focused on the task of planting trees in order to protect the forests and traditional hunting grounds.
“This tree has been here ever since I can remember.” In urban neighborhoods, in the countryside, or on campuses, one often comes across big old trees that are steadfast companions of people through the cycle of the seasons. They protect the earth and serve as local chronicles, bearing witness to environmental changes. But have you ever asked about the trees’ own life experiences? Pull up a stool and listen.
The Japanese colonial era represented a watershed in the history of Taiwanese art. Although public taste at that time continued to gravitate toward traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, several Taiwanese painters came under the influence of their Japanese teachers and embraced new styles and techniques. Their works ushered in a “New Fine Art Movement” in Taiwan. Among these artists were Chen Cheng-po, Liao Chi-chun, and Ran In-ting—all of whom became pillars of Taiwan’s art history.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we will soon be landing at Taoyuan International Airport. The temperature on the ground is a pleasant 24°C. It is spring, and the flowers are blooming. The sidewalk trees in cities around Taiwan are decorating the streets with a stunning variety of colors. If you are visiting Taiwan as a tourist, I suggest that you keep an eye out for their new looks as spring turns to summer.
“On this island we have always been living side by side with these magnificent old trees.” So says Rebecca Hsu, head of the “Taiwan Champion Trees—Giant Tree Mapping Project.”
The 2023 Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS), the first show of its kind in the world this year, was held in March. Taiwanese exhibitors presented solutions involving automation, intelligent machinery, and zero carbon emissions, exemplifying the trend toward optimization and innovation in machine tools.
Rice is a staple food in Taiwan. By the 17th century, rice porridge, or congee, was already part of people’s diet here. Having a bowl of congee with a few savory side dishes early in the morning or late at night helps us get warm. In today’s Taiwan, congee has made its way from private kitchens to restaurants. As fine dining gradually takes hold, we now have Michelin-recommended restaurants which serve congee with accompanying dishes.
2016, the start of Taipei’s tenure as World Design Capital, was also the 70th anniversary of Taiwan Power Company, better known as Taipower. That year the previously unassuming main entrance of the Taipower Headquarters Building on Taipei’s Roosevelt Road was embellished with various public art works. Flowingly Blows the Breeze is a ribbon-like canopy festooned with miniature wind turbines and LED lights, which at night is transformed into a beautiful band of light.
