Eight prints from the "37th New Year Prints Exhibition of R.O.C. – Joyful Tiger Harvesting Happiness," organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA), will become part of the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL)'s art print collection. To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Taiwanese American Heritage Week, the AADL, in collaboration with the Michigan Taiwanese American Organization, will also be hosting a series of events at its Downtown branch, including a one-month exhibition from May 1 to 31.
According to NTMoFA, there were 198 total entries in this year's exhibition, of which six were awarded first prizes. In addition, two artists were invited to create commissioned works: Liu Hsi-Chuan (劉錫權)'s "Tiger with Wings" demonstrates the majestic nature of tigers and incorporates auspicious elements, while prints of Paul Chiang (江賢二)'s "Jinzun 21" capture the delicate use of colors and three-dimensional texture that are found in his original oil painting.
Chang Hui-chun (張惠君), director of the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, explained that she was amazed at the AADL’s art print collection, which provides hundreds of pieces for its patrons to borrow for free. Therefore she thought that it could provide an excellent opportunity for the Center and NTMoFA to introduce some breathtaking works from the annual New Year prints exhibition to the local community.
Since 1974, Taiwan's Ministry of Culture has been calling for submissions for this unique and festive New Year exhibition. Because prints are easily replicable, they can reach a larger audience and bring joy to the public. Nowadays, the purpose of New Year prints has evolved from the need for scenic decoration to a demonstration of various printmaking techniques, as well as a platform for creative depictions of both traditional and contemporary culture.