Ministry of Culture-Performance Venues & Architectural Heritage

A posthumous presidential citation from President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has been awarded to the late Taiwanese contemporary sculptor, Ju Ming (朱銘), who passed away on Apr. 22 at the age of 85. In recognition of Ju's significant contribution to the development of Taiwanese arts, Culture Minister Shih Che presented the presidential citation to the sculptor's wife at Juming Museum on May 18.

Those present included NPO Juming Culture & Education Foundation chairman Chou Kung-shin (周功鑫), National Palace Museum director Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌), former National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts director Huang Tsai-lang (黃才郎), and other distinguished guests.

Minister Shih stated that Ju once said, "we must learn to let go of things during the process of learning. If we have no intention of discarding, we would remain stagnant and make no progress." When the master was 30 years old, he studied modern sculpture with the master sculptor Yang Yuyu (楊英風). In 1976, he gained fame in Taiwan's art community after his first individual exhibition at the National Museum of History. Having proven his words through action, he not only achieved success in Taiwan but also gained prominence on the global stage. He had held exhibitions in numerous art museums around the world, allowing his masterpieces to be seen in many important cities worldwide.

Shih pointed out that Ju, who had achieved high accomplishments in the arts, attributed his success to Taiwanese society. The sculptor said, "money is fundamentally a part of the society, and when it returns to the society, it becomes a fulfilling outcome." Therefore, when he nearly turned fifty years old, he founded the Juming Museum (朱銘美術館) in Jinshan District, New Taipei City, with the concept of "planting the seeds of art in the soil of Taiwan (種活藝術種子)."

Shih specifically visited the museum to admire the master's pieces. He remarked that the entire museum itself is the master's grandest creation, showcasing Ju's lifelong dedication to the advancement of art and classic works. Ju and the museum have been committed to promoting children's art and sculpture education, establishing themselves as an important domestic and global platform for arts exchange.

The Minister emphasizes that the Ministry will uphold the spirit of the master to continue to make efforts in the future as well as pass on and promote Ju's artistic achievements, with the aim of nurturing the seeds of arts in the heart of the Taiwanese people and even individuals in the world.