With support from the Ministry of Culture, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Sydney is collaborating with the Biennale of Sydney for the second time to launch a project, inviting Taiwanese artists to exhibit their artworks. The Australian biennial announced its theme titled "Ten Thousand Suns" and the first 39 artists for its 24th edition on July 25. Taiwanese artists Idas Losin and Li Jiun-yang (李俊陽) are among those expected to join the art festival next year.
Considering the significant results achieved in the previous cooperation with the Sydney Biennale, this year, the Ministry of Culture made extra efforts to support two artists from different ethnic groups and generations in Taiwan to participate in the exhibition, with hopes to present Taiwan's profound cultural heritage at the international art event and further enhance Australian people's understanding of Taiwan.
Biennale of Sydney's chief executive officer Barbara Moore said that it's a pleasure to continue the partnership with TECO in Sydney on the basis of the previous successful collaboration, with both sides working together to amplify the voice of indigenous artists, promote knowledge sharing, and form a vibrant network of art communities.
Moore guaranteed that the 24th Biennale of Sydney will be a deeply meaningful and enriching experience for visitors; she looks forward to welcoming Taiwanese artists Idas Losin and Li Jiun-yang be a part of the event, which makes the cultural collaboration a symbol of hope while deepening mutual understanding and shaping a brighter future. She added that, through the transformative power of art, we can embark on a journey of endless possibilities and embrace a world where imagination flourishes.
Coming from Hualien County's Ihownang, a village inhabited by the indigenous Truku people, Idas Losin, who is of Truku and Atayal ancestry, specializes in oil painting. She won the top prize at Taiwan’s Pulima Art Award in 2012 and was the recipient of the Asian Cultural Council awards fellowship in 2014.
In 2013, Idas Losin worked on the "Island Hopping Project (跳島創作計畫)." Starting from Taiwan, the northernmost part of the Austronesian language groups, she visited seven islands including Easter Island, Hawaii, Guam, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Orchid Island (Lanyu). Through art residency programs, Idas Losin investigated Austronesian cultures and transformed her fieldwork into creations. She is an important figure in the development of Taiwanese contemporary art from the perspective of Austronesian culture.
Born in Taitung and growing up in a cinema poster painter’s family, Li Jiun-yang has learned to paint film posters, build the stage for glove puppets, and also the art of temple painting. He created his art in various forms, including drawing, sculpture, mixed media installation art, graffiti, performance art, and experimental theatre. Li incorporates Taiwanese folk culture, religious beliefs, and street aesthetics into his artworks, which present different visual symbols and ethnic identities in Taiwan. Li received an Asian Cultural Council awards fellowship in 2002 and was selected at Taipei Biennial in 2023.
Established in 1973, the Biennale of Sydney is one of the three major biennials in the world alongside the Venice Biennale and the São Paulo Art Biennial. So far, it has exhibited the works of more than 2,000 artists from over 100 countries. The 24th Biennale of Sydney will be held from March 9 to June 10, 2024. For more information, please visit the official website.