For their cultural endeavors, Taiwanese veteran pianist Tchen Yu-chiou (陳郁秀), German translator Thilo Diefenbach, and academic Charlotte Pollet from France were honored with the Taiwan-France Cultural Award in Paris on Sept. 18. The award ceremony was hosted by Culture Minister Shih Che and Perpetual Secretary Bernard Stirn of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
Chen has consistently nurtured cultural connections with France through her profession, making a major breakthrough in cultural exchange between Taiwan and France. Her exceptional accomplishments have earned her several commendations from the French government over the years. In her acceptance speech, she said, "Paris is my second home, art is my lifetime passion, and I am always a devoted volunteer for Taiwan-France cultural exchange."
As a self-described "Taiwanologist," Diefenbach focuses on translating and analyzing works of substantial importance in the evolution of Taiwanese literary history from a European perspective. In his speech, he emphasized that Taiwan must establish a clear self-identity, considering the significant challenges the country constantly confronts. He believes that the literary studies can also play a role in supporting and safeguarding Taiwan.
Charlotte Pollet, an associate professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, has long been devoted to advancing and promoting philosophy for children in Taiwan. Her aim is to inspire children with free and critical thinking, and actively cultivate the development of children's philosophy education. She mentioned that she intentionally came to Taiwan to witness the country’s democracy and freedom. She relishes the academic freedom, which allows her to study ancient classics, lead workshops on children's philosophy, and even experiment with new methods of philosophical research with college students.
The Taiwan-France Cultural Award was established in 1996 through a collaboration between the Minister of Culture and France’s Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. Over 40 individuals from around the world have been recognized by this award to date. Apart from fostering cultural exchange, the award also encourages a deeper exploration of Taiwanese culture in various domains, enabling Taiwan to collaborate with the global community to make progress together.