A presidential citation has been awarded to Ho Chao-chu (何肇衢), the first-generation artist of the post-WWII era, who passed away on March 2 at the age of 92, in recognition of his contributions to the development of Taiwanese art and art education. Deputy Minister of Culture Sue Wang (王時思) presented the presidential citation to Ho’s son on behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen during a memorial ceremony on March 26.
Born in 1931 in Qionglin Township, Hsinchu County, Ho graduated from the Taiwan Provincial Normal School (now National Taipei University of Education) in 1952 and then served as an art teacher at the National Taipei University of Education Experimental Elementary School until retirement.
In his leisure time, he dedicated himself to art creation and also actively participated in competitions and events. Due to his excellent performance, he received several awards and recognitions for his art. Notably, he was the recipient of the first prize in the Taiwan Provincial Fine Art Exhibition. He also won the Tai Yang Award three years in a row and in 1961, he was recommended to become a member of the Tai-Yang Art Association.
For many years, Ho had served as a judge for domestic official art exhibitions and as a committee member for art museum collections. His works were collected by major art museums in Taiwan, and he was also invited to hold solo exhibitions multiple times, showcasing his exceptional talent and career as an artist. As his works embodied the spirit of Hakka culture, the Hakka Affairs Council presented him with a grand award in 2019.
Ministry of Culture stated that Ho devoted his entire life to art education and creation, and he portrayed the history of Taiwanese art through his works with distinctive and unique aesthetics. As an important figure for Taiwanese artists, the Ministry will actively preserve the valuable works and information of veteran artists like Ho to provide a complete historical context of Taiwanese art.