GEISAI Taiwan Report 7/ Takashi Murakami Personal Award

As previously reported, Chairman Murakami served himself on the jury board for this year’s GEISAI Taiwan, marking his first stint as a juror since August 2002’s GEISAI#2 . That’s 7 years!!! Here, we will introduce the three works which received Murakami’s personal award.

●Takashi Murakami Award


Hsiao-Pa, SOM

Born in 1979, Hsiao-Pa graduated from one of the world’s most prestigious art restoration schools, Italy’s Nuova Academia di Belle Arti MILANO (NABA), after studying visual art. He is the owner of a store which focuses on African cultural items as marginalized art and has reserved a room of the store as his atelier.
“I was surprised that African style art would be rated so highly by the jurors,” he commented. “While winning here doesn’t prove that what I’m doing is “right,” it does allow me to show myself to the word. And I realized for myself that being an artist doesn’t necessarily end with myself alone in a room drawing pictures for just myself.”
For his next piece, Hsiao-Pa would like to change direction a little and attempt a large scale work which recreates some of his favorite themes.

Personal website：
http://somsomlu.blogspot.com/


Wang Tzu-Yun

Born in 1979, Wang Tzu-Yun has a masters in fine arts from England’s University of Southampton. She is currently building her portfolio to achieve candidacy for a doctorate. After beginning her career while in college, her works have focused mainly on her private life. In her paintings, we can see images reflecting her family’s love, her dreams, and memories of past travels. “I was very happy to receive the Takashi Murakami award and am very grateful to the jurors,” she commented. “I couldn’t have done this without my family.”
When asked for her thoughts on GEISAI Taiwan itself, Ms. Wang responded “GEISAI is a place where young artists can build ties to the society at large. It’s a chance for people who don’t normally go to galleries to encounter art in a relaxed environment.” With her unique sense of soft color, Ms. Wang captured a lonely atmosphere to which all can relate.


Lin Chih-Yu

Born in 1977, Lin Chih-Yu graduated from Taipei National University of the Arts with a degree in lighting design. After studying photography with Juan Yi-Chung, she was awarded the prize for best new photographer and received a scholarship from Heineken to study digital photography in Holland. After receiving a master’s degree in mass communications from Europe, she worked for three years in Shanghai and recently returned to Taiwan. Her works on exhibit at GEISAI Taiwan, collective called “White Soy sauce,” were made after returning to her hometown. It seems the lights of Taiwan have provided her a new source of inspiration and artistic aspirations. “GEISAI Taiwan is like a wonderful group exhibition of Taiwanese artists,” she commented. “We shared our thoughts and words through our works and I was very moved to have the chance to communicate with everyone.”

Ms. Lin also remarked that being accepted by the judges had helped her find new confidence in her abilities. She is currently scheduled to open a solo exhibition in the future and would like to showcase works made over the past seven years.

Personal Website:
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/false-foto/

Above are the three artists selected by Takashi Murakami for his personal award. Each represents a new bond between art and society and reveals a different aspect of both. The GEISAI Administrative Committee is proud to share the kind words and passion of these award recipients with everyone.

Congratulations to Mr. Hsiao-Pa, SOM, Ms. Wang Tzu-Yun, and Ms. Lin Chih-Yu on winning the Takashi Murakami award.

For further details on the prize winners, visit the link below.
http://tw.geisai.net/g12/feature/winner1.php

photo/TAKEHIRO SEGAWA(AZIO)