The award giving and opening ceremony of “The 44th National Oil Painting Exhibition” was held at Bo-ai Gallery, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Ministry of Culture, in the morning of August 22. The distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony included Deputy Minister of Culture, Xiao Zong-huang, Chairman of Creative Oil Painting Society of R.O.C., Su Hsien-fa, Chairman of Cathay United Bank Culture and Charity Foundation, Li Ming-xian, Chairman of Tai-Yang Art Society, Wu Long-rong, Honorary Chairman of Tainan Art Museum, Chen Hui-dong, former vice president of Judicial Yuan, Xie Zai-quan, Deputy Secretary-General of Control Yuan, Liu Wen-shi, and the members of the oil painting society.
“Creative Oil Painting Society of R.O.C.” was established by many Taiwanese senior painters in 1974. The 44th exhibition takes place this year. It is the oil painting art society with the longest history, holding the member exhibition and competition grandly every year and making the practical achievement in leveling up fine arts education and the creative quality of oil painting in our country. Today there are 122 great oil paintings exhibited at Bo-ai Gallery and east and west Culture Corridors of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, including 89 works of the members and 33 works of the competition winners. The prize of NT$1 million is exclusively sponsored by Cathay United Bank Culture and Charity Foundation to encourage the new generation and art lovers to actively participate.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Xiao Zong-huang, said in his speech that the great vitality can be found in this exhibition and the works. The society can compete with the other painting societies with longer history, especially in terms of the participating works. With the highest openness, most categories, and richest subjects, the painting society displays its diversity and tolerance by integrating the characteristics of the domestic oil painting exhibitions. He expressed the gratitude to Chairman Su and the oil painting society for their hard work and to Cathay United Bank Culture and Charity Foundation for sponsoring the competition for years and encouraged National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall to continue to support and hold such exhibition.
In his speech, Director-general of National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Liang Yung-fei, first congratulated the winners on the scene, expressed his gratitude to them for presenting the splendid and outstanding works, and pointed out the three meanings of the exhibition. First, insist on the belief for sustainable heritage. National Oil Painting Exhibition has come to the 44th year. Besides enriching their own creation, the chairmen of the organizer, Creative Oil Painting Society of R.O.C., also contribute their life to passing down the painting career, building and constructing the priceless art history of Taiwan through the competitions and exhibitions, and supporting the students and young people who love oil painting from generation to generation. It is a career and benevolence to both themselves and others. Second, the cooperation with the different industries creates the win-win situation. Cathay United Bank Culture and Charity Foundation exclusively sponsors the competition prize for Creative Oil Painting Society of R.O.C. to cultivate the young talents, assist the new artists, and promote oil painting in Taiwan together. It is the best model to benefit all the art circle, business world, and social public. Third, effective leadership benefits all. Chairman Su Hsien-fa leads the members and teams and continues to work hard for oil painting in Taiwan. With the guidance of Chairman Su, the depth and breadth of the exhibited works can be seen every year. Both the subjects and expressive skills have the international creative competitiveness. He expressed his gratitude to Chairman Su for the devotion to promoting fine arts in Taiwan and leading Creative Oil Painting Society of R.O.C. to make progress. Director-general Liang also promised that National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall will continue to assist with the promotion of oil painting and construct Taiwan’s art history together with the artists.
Chairman Su Hsien-fa of Creative Oil Painting Society of R.O.C. said he was about to retire from the post and expressed his gratitude to the art lovers for working hard together and to Cathay United Bank Culture and Charity Foundation for the support. With the sponsoring of the foundation, the prize can be raised from NT$30,000 to NT$200,000. Therefore, the number of the submitted works has greatly increased, and the quality of the works has also been raised, which achieves the better effects. The exhibition specially leaves the space for the winners. This is not only the encouragement to the new-generation artists but also the promotion and support to art in Taiwan. He expected that the future chairman will continue to persist in and work hard for the belief.
This year, National Oil Painting Exhibition has selected 33 works. Gold Award (Cathay Award) winner, Zhou Sheng-jie, won the prize of NT$200,000. Silver Award winner, Wu Zhen-lin, won the prize of NT$150,000. Bronze Award winner, Wu Dai-jin, won the prize of NT$100,000. There are five Merit Award winners, including Cai Yu-yun, Chen Tai-hua, Yu Wei-chen, Shao Wen-feng, and Shen Yun-jin. The winners of Chen Yin-Hui Award are Zhang Wen-jing and Guo Yu-zhen. There are twenty-two Judges’ Award winners, including Wu Wen-cang, Sun Si-ping, Li Ying-rong, Yan Zong-xi, Lin Zhong-liang, Wu Ming-zhu, Yu Mei-hui, Liu Zhi-hui, Liang Yu-pei, Li Jian-xun, Lin Zheng-hao, Zhuo Mei-dai, Zhang Mei-yun, Zhang Guo-er, Tang Guo-guang, Qiu Ling-qiong, Qiu Fan-ting, Yang Chen-hua, Chen Xian-zhang, Lin Zhi-yu, Xu Zhao-hui, and Zhang Jia-xiang. Lin Mei-zhu Award is given to Han Shan-jun. “The 44th National Oil Painting Exhibition” will take place at Bo-ai Gallery, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, from today to September 2.