The 19th International Biennial Print Exhibit launched at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) on July 4, with some 1220 artists from 80 countries competing for a total of 15 titles, including gold, silver, and bronze awards, distinctions, commendations, and the jury prize. The winners, along with 149 other selected works, are being displayed in Galleries 102 and 202 of the museum.
The International Biennial Print Exhibit was established in 1983, becoming Taiwan's first open competition biennial and another addition to the long-standing international print biennial competition scene. The gold medalist this year was Japanese artist Dan Obana, with the silver going to Poland’s Henryk Krolikowski and the bronze to Lee Tek Khean from Malaysia.
The works in this exhibition capture the artists' interpretations of their own life experiences and cultural backgrounds, using the print form to set down memories of the age and images of the soul in a profound and meaningful way. In conjunction with the biennial, the NTMoFA is also holding a themed exhibition entitled "The Craze for Prints," showcasing the museum's Taiwanese prints, selections from past biennials, and works from renowned printmakers to give visitors a deeper understanding of the art form.
NTMoFA Director Lin Chi-ming notes that given the extraordinary times that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon us, the museum has arranged special online awards videos, a 360 online VR gallery, and online seminars. In this way, technology is used to create a platform for exchange under the special circumstances.
"We look forward to continued open competition, sharing, and enrichment of the diverse world of printmaking into the future through this international competition," Lin said.
International Biennial Print Exhibit: 2020 ROC
Dates: July 4, 2020 – Sept. 27, 2020
Location: Gallery 102 & 202, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts