Culture Minister Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) met with Taiwanese artist Lee Ming-wei (李明維) and Kathryn Weir, director of the Department of Cultural Development of Pompidou Centre, to discuss details on next year's collaborative projects on Nov. 30.
Lee is a notable artist known for his conceptual art. His creations are mostly participatory installations or performances that connect the artist with audience members. Everyday activities are explored through a poetic presentation and the unique relationship he has built with exhibitiongoers.
Based in New York today, Lee focuses on creating participatory art that explores human relations and people's interactions with society, coaxing audiences to become a part of his exhibitions. He has showcased and presented his works in countries including Australia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and the US.
A month-long exhibition and performance will be held next June at the Pompidou Centre, where Lee and Taiwanese performers will interact and hold artistic dialogues with audiences. It is the first time that the center has extended such an invitation to a Taiwanese artist.
During their meeting, Minister Cheng noted that Taiwan's diverse culture and close interaction with international communities have spurred the creation of contemporary art of Taiwan. The nation's democratic environment also enables freedom of expression, she added.
The Minister concluded her visit by expressing her hopes for closer collaboration with the center, while Weir expressed her interest in visiting Taiwan to understand Taiwan's different art forms.
The Pompidou Centre is one of the world's major museums of contemporary art. As a house of world-leading collections, it aims to collect artworks, promote art education, and introduce the latest trends in performance arts.
In recent years, the center has been actively promoting multimedia creations by introducing experimental exhibitions and performances to French audiences. It has also been expanding its partnerships overseas and seeking more international exchange opportunities to promote new art forms.
Taiwanese artist Lee Ming-wei (second left), Culture Minister Cheng Li-chiun (center), and Pompidou Centre official Kathryn Weir (second right) met on Nov. 30 to discuss the details of several collaborative projects slated for 2017.