The Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) held the opening ceremony of the 2019 Art Hakka exhibition on May 17 at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei. HAC Minister Lee Yung-de explained that 112 Hakka artists of different generations from across Taiwan were invited to join this exhibition, which is on a grander scale than previous renditions with over 150 featured art pieces. Everyone is welcomed to explore the beauty of Hakka art, he said.

Minister Lee noted that, as one of the HAC officials, he spent a great deal of time thinking about what constitutes as Hakka aesthetics. To seek answers, HAC has held numerous exchange programs for Hakka artists from Taiwan and other countries. He now believes that Hakka aesthetics, which is constructed by people who are passionately engaged in Hakka culture, is characterized by diversity, vitality, and sensibility.

The traveling exhibition of 2019 Art Hakka is taking place from May 17 to June 9 in Taipei, and it will continue to be staged from June 14 to 27 in Miaoli, and from July 3 to 29 in Pingtung. Curator Hsiao Chiung-jui (蕭瓊瑞) stated that artistic works including oil paintings, watercolor paintings, eastern gouache paintings, ink paintings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, mixed media, and digital multimedia by contemporary artists with Hakka origins are categorized by different generations. Visitors can observe how those artists expressed their inner conflicts and personal growth against the backdrop of Taiwanese history through their creations.

Experienced Hakka artists who are involved in the exhibition include Ho Chau-chu (何肇衢), Tseng Wen-chung (曾文忠), Li Lan (黎蘭), Chen Kuo-chan (陳國展), Hsieh Hsiao-de (謝孝德), Chiang Ming-shyan (江明賢), Ho Hen-hsiung (何恆雄), Yeh Sung-sen (葉松森), Tseng Hsing-ping (曾興平), Chen Chun-kuang (陳俊光), Chiu Ting-fu (邱定夫), Chan Chien-yu (詹前裕), and many more who have displayed their persistence and artistic achievements with their masterpieces.

One of the younger Hakka artists is Huang Hsin-chien (黃心健), who won the 2017 Best VR Experience Award at the 74th Venice Film Festival for his virtual-reality co-production “La Camera Insabbiata.” The abundant creativity of new-generation Hakka artists like Huang will surely amaze exhibition-goers.

Through systematic planning, the exhibition this year is aimed at fostering a Hakka renaissance by enriching Hakka aesthetics, presenting the value and importance of Hakka arts, and combining Hakka culture with varied art forms. It is anticipated that the general public will become more familiar with Hakka culture through such cultural and art events. More information can be found at www.hakkaart-exhibition.com.

2019 Art Hakka in Taipei

Date: May 17 to June 9, 2019

Location: 1st Exhibition Hall at National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Address: No. 21, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

2019 Art Hakka in Miaoli

Date: June 14 to June 27, 2019

Location: 5th Special Exhibition Hall at Taiwan Hakka Museum

Address: No. 6, Tongke S. Rd., Jiouhu Village, Tongluo Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

2019 Art Hakka in Pingtung

Date: July 3 to July 29, 2019

Location: 1st Special Exhibition Hall at Liudui Hakka Cultural Park

Address: No. 588, Xinyi Rd., Neipu Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)