October 29, 2023
The 6th Lih Pao International Sculpture Biennial Awards were announced at the National Concert Hall in Taiwan on October 29, 2023. Taiwanese artist Su-Chen Tai was awarded the gold prize for her work Wave Flower. The silver prize went to Italian artist Selene Frosini, while Romanian artist Petre-Virgiliu Mogoşanu and Turkish artist Ümit Turgay Durgun shared the bronze prize. The chairman of the Jury, Japanese artist Takamichi Ito, stated, Wave Flower perfectly addresses the issues of our time and successfully translates them into art. The work's intricate layering delves deep into its fine structure, displaying remarkable density of expression.”
Gold prize winner Su-Chen Tai expressed her gratitude for receiving this honor, saying, “The work Wave Flower is created from recycled plastic bottles, conveying the message that in art and many aspects of life, people play a pivotal role, and it's only through human actions that we can change the world.”
This year, a total of 25 countries and 138 pieces of artwork competed. Over the past 12 years, the Lih Pao International Sculpture Biennial Awards have attracted participation from outstanding artists from 63 countries, resulting in 1,152 artists who have collectively contributed to the success of the event, with 91 award winners. This marks a significant achievement in the history of the biennial awards. Renowned international artists, including Nicolas Bertoux from France, Izumi Hatano, the President of Okinawa Prefectural University of Fine Arts in Japan, Jason deCaires Taylor, a contemporary underwater sculptor from the UK, Chen Kai-Huang, the president of Taipei National University of the Arts, and prominent Taiwanese sculptors like Chi-Man Lai and Professor Hsu-Tung Han, served as judges. Chairman of the Jury Takamichi Ito commented, “For this year's selection, each judge had a wealth of insights and opinions. The quality of the artworks this time was exceptionally high, making the selection process challenging, requiring many rounds of discussions to reach a consensus. We hope that all the shortlisted artists can launch their careers on a larger stage thanks to the Lih Pao International Sculpture Biennial Awards and deliver outstanding performances.”
Despite the global challenges posed by the pandemic over the past three years, the Lih Pao International Sculpture Biennial Awards continued, emphasizing the importance of art creation unaffected by external circumstances and frameworks. It aims to showcase the universal values and resilience of art and how art can carry boundless hope. This year, the co-hosting country, France, through the director of Bureau Français de Taipei, Mr. Franck Paris mentioned, “In this edition of the biennial awards, we witnessed the rich dialogue and exchange between Taiwan and France in the realm of art, and it is delightful to see a representative from the French art community on the Jury member. In the future, as we hand over the baton of co-hosting to Italy, a cultural and artistic powerhouse, we feel greatly pleased.” Representing the next co-hosting country, Italian Economic, Trade and Cultural Promotion Office, Davide Giglio, said, “We hope that this event can stimulate cultural exchange between Italy and Taiwan and allow us to integrate art into society through the power of art.”
