The 37th National Cultural Award, the highest cultural honor in Taiwan, was bestowed to artist-writer Hsieh Li-fa (謝里法) and filmmaker-scriptwriter Wu Nien-jen (吳念真).
Hsieh is a notable printmaker and art critic dedicated to studying and promoting Taiwan's fine arts. He is also the first person to write the history of art in Taiwan. His literary works, which helped rediscover achievements and contributions by local artists, have left an important impact on Taiwan's reconstruction of its art history.
He published books on Taiwanese art history including "History of the Taiwan Art Movement in the Japanese Colonial Era (日據時代臺灣美術運動史)" and "Taiwan Artists (台灣出土人物誌)," which revived the importance of artists such as Chen Cheng-po (陳澄波) and Jiang Wen-ye (江文也).
Hsieh's novel "The Purple Dadaocheng (紫色大稻埕)" has also been adapted as a TV drama. The story reimagining the lives of iconic Taiwanese artists and literati is credited with helping to introduce early Taiwan culture and art to the modern public. Hsieh is thus praised the "Pioneer of Taiwan Art History" … (read more)
Wu is a prolific scriptwriter, director, and author whose works usually depict the lives of the working class in Taiwan. He held an influential role in Taiwan's New Wave Cinema movement during the 1980s by writing the screenplay for a number of representative films in that era.
Praised as Taiwan's best storyteller, Wu mainly writes about life as a member of Taiwan's middle and lower class. Before trying his hand in advertising and theater, he wrote 72 film scripts and participated in 17 films as an actor. He also won Taiwan's prestigious Wu San-lien Literature Prize.
Taking inspiration from his own life experience, Wu wrote and directed "A Borrowed Life (多桑)," which went on to win several accolades at domestic and international film festivals. In recent years, Wu joined the Greenray Theater Company to produce the highly acclaimed "Conditions of World (人間條件)" musical. He has also continued promoting education and culture in rural areas … (read more)
Launched in 1981, the National Cultural Award is the nation's top award that recognizes outstanding individuals who have made great contributions to Taiwan culture. So far, 81 people have been given the award.
The judge committee of the 37th session of the National Cultural Award comprised of twelve writers, cultural professionals, and artists, including Wang Shau-di (王小棣), Wu Mali (吳瑪悧), Lee Chien-lang (李乾朗), and Li Kuei-hsien (李魁賢).