‘Uncoverings: The Search for Identity in Lithuanian Photography’ opens in Taipei

2022-11-08

A new photography exhibition has opened in Taipei. The show explores the history of identities in Lithuania, both at cultural and individual levels. The exhibition titled, "Uncoverings: The Search for Identity in Lithuanian Photography," also gives visitors a glimpse into the history of photography in the European nation. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look!

This exhibition is divided into three themes: “Identity as Reality,” “Identity as an Object,” and “Identity as a Concept.” The first part of the exhibition explores the development of Lithuanian photography. From 1940 until 1990, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. It was not until 1950 that Lithuanian photography started to develop. Photography became a tool for self-expression and played a significant role in forming the ideology of the state. Many of these works were captured by Lithuanian photographer, Antansas Sutkus.

Fu Yuan-cheng
National Center of Photography and Images
The first part of the exhibition, "Identity as Reality," showcases the beginning and gradual formation of photography in Lithuania after 1950. In this series, it is mainly the presentation of humanistic documentary photography. We mainly have the works of Antanas Sutkus on display. For example, this work, "Blind Pioneer," reflects the spirit of Lithuania’s humanistic photography.

The second part of the exhibition explores the transformation of Lithuanian culture and history. Lithuanian photographers in the 1980s witnessed a movement for political transformation, along with mass protests. During this time, the photographers portrayed the fatigue people felt by capturing photos of everyday objects.

Fu Yuan-cheng
National Center of Photography and Images
The second part, "Identity as an Object" talks about Lithuania after the 1980s during a revolution. The artist also hopes to get rid of the spirit of the past humanistic photography. In this exhibition, the main thing is to explore the concept of identity. From the concept of identity, the desire for freedom and thirst for freedom can be drawn. This also corresponds to the current situation, whether it is Taiwan , Lithuania or the current Russian invasion of Ukraine. These situations let us reflect on the concept of our own identity.

Lastly, the third part of the exhibition showcases works created in the 21st century. Due to the development of technology and digital photography, artists who emerged during this period took photos highlighting society from different perspectives to encourage viewers to think about novel topics.

Fu Yuan-cheng
National Center of Photography and Images
The third part mainly exhibits the works of Lithuanian photographers after the 21st century. After gaining independence in 1990, many Lithuanian photographers have more opportunities to study and also continue with the spirit of their predecessors.

The organizers have borrowed the collections of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art to exhibit in Taiwan. Through the exhibition in Taiwan, it hopes to showcase the diversity of the East European nation’s voices through photography as well as deepen the relationship between Taiwan and Lithuania.

Fu Yuan-cheng
National Center of Photography and Images
During the epidemic last year, Lithuania donated masks and vaccines to Taiwan twice. Due to this, there was an opportunity and a platform for international exchange relations between Taiwan and Lithuania to begin. In addition to pandemic diplomacy at the time, the Ministry of Culture also hopes to have a deeper exchange with Lithuania in future. Through these three themes, we hope to show the development of Lithuania’s photography, as well as understand the diversity of identities.

The exhibition will showcase the works of 21 local Lithuanian photographers from 1950 to today. “Uncoverings: The Search for Identity in Lithuanian Photography," will be on at the National Center of Photography and Images until Nov. 13.

「揭幕：尋探立陶宛攝影中的認同」國家攝影中心臺北館展出

2022-11-08

國家攝影文化中心臺北館現正展出「揭幕：尋探立陶宛攝影中的認同」展覽。攝影展覽從文化和個人層面探討了立陶宛的身份歷史，同時也以影像回顧立陶攝影的歷史。

展覽分為《認同即現實》、《認同即物件》以及《認同即概念》三個主題。展覽的第一部分探討了立陶宛攝影的發展，從 1940 年到 1990 年，立陶宛被蘇聯佔領。直到 1950 年，立陶宛攝影才開始發展。攝影變成了表達自我的一種工具，並且在國家意識形態的形成過程，發揮了極其重要的功用。其中許多作品是由立陶宛攝影師 "安塔納斯．蘇庫斯"所拍攝。

[[國家攝影文化中心臺北館執行秘書傅遠政]]
"展覽第一個單元《認同即現實》，要呈現的是立陶宛在1950之後，逐漸形成攝影風潮的開端。這個系列，主要是人文紀實攝影的呈現。最主要是，有立陶宛很重要的蘇庫斯這位攝影師的作品。例如"盲眼的小紅軍"，反映出立陶宛的人文主義攝影精神。"

展覽的第二部分探討了，立陶宛文化和歷史的轉變。 1980 年代的立陶宛攝影師見證了一場政治變革運動以及大規模的抗議活動。這段期間，攝影師透過拍攝日常生活的物品，來描繪人們所感受到的苦悶。

[[國家攝影文化中心臺北館執行秘書傅遠政]]
"在第二個單元《認同即物件》，是1980 年代之後，立陶宛它在面對革命的氛圍。攝影師希望能擺脫過去人文攝影的精神。第二單元的展覽，主要是探究自我認同的概念。從自我認同的概念裡面，可以從作品中看出人們對於自由的慾望和追求。同樣地，對應到現今的狀況，不管是台灣或是立陶宛的處境，還有俄烏戰爭，都是讓我們去反思自我身分認同的概念。"

最後，展覽的第三部分展示了21世紀的作品。因為現今科技和數位攝影的發展快速，這一個時期的攝影師，從不同的角度拍攝了描述社會各角落的照片，鼓勵民眾思考新奇的話題。

[[國家攝影文化中心臺北館執行秘書傅遠政]]
“在第三個單元，主要展出了21世紀之後立陶宛的攝影作品。隨著立陶宛在1990年獨立之後，很多攝影師有機會可以就學，然後可以延續攝影前輩的精神。"

"揭幕：尋探立陶宛攝影中的認同" 展出了來自立陶宛國家美術館的收藏品。透過這次展覽，希望能透過攝影作品，展示東歐國家的多元文化，並加深台灣與立陶宛的文化交流。

[[國家攝影文化中心臺北館執行秘書傅遠政]]
“其實在去年疫情的時候，當時是立陶宛兩度捐贈台灣，不管是口罩或是疫苗。從這個機緣打開了台灣跟立陶宛的國際交流關係的平台，除了當時疫情的外交，文化部也希望有更深層一點的交流，因此，透過這三個主題攝影展，來呈現立陶宛攝影發展的歷程，也透過這個展覽，讓我們理解自我認同的多元面貌。"

此次展覽展出21位立陶宛當地攝影師從1950年至今的作品。《揭幕：尋探立陶宛攝影中的認同》將在國家攝影文化中心臺北館展出持續到 11 月 13 日。

Four DPP mayoral candidates in Northern Taiwan propose integrated transport pass

The DPP’s mayoral candidates for Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan on Monday held a campaign event together to present a joint transport proposal for Northern Taiwan. They say the four cities can launch a monthly transport pass that expands on the current All Pass Ticket available in Taipei and New Taipei, at a lower price. In addition to the Taipei Metro, the Danhai LRT, city buses and YouBikes, the proposed pass would also be usable on TRA trains, intercity coach buses and the Taoyuan Metro.

The DPP mayoral candidates for Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan have announced a proposal to launch a NT$1,200 public transport pass valid in all four cities.

Chen Shih-chung
Taipei mayoral candidate (DPP)
I came up with a slogan. Better Taipei, Closer Taiwan. But before Taiwan can grow closer, we need smaller areas to get closer.

Cheng Yun-peng
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (DPP)
This is a monthly transport pass that encompasses different means of transportation across city boundaries and living spaces.

Lin Chia-lung
New Taiipei City mayoral candidate (DPP)
Lower the price and add in Keelung and Taoyuan to expand the scope of the metropolis. The current pass is only usable in Taipei and New Taipei. The new pass would also include new transport networks.

Tsai Shih-ying
Keelung mayoral candidate (DPP)
It’ll be a breath of fresh air. Over the past few decades, the mayors in the greater Taipei area have not proposed any plans for urban governance across city boundaries.

Currently, the NT$1,280 All Pass Ticket can be used in Taipei and New Taipei, to ride the Taipei Metro, the Danhai LRT, city buses and rent YouBikes. The plan proposed by the mayors would expand its use to intercity buses, regular trains and the Taoyuan Metro. The mayoral candidates say the funding for the tickets won’t be a problem.

Chen Shih-chung
Taipei mayoral candidate (DPP)
The central government has a policy goal to reduce carbon emissions, and integrate different areas to promote comfortable living. These are central government targets. Our governance plan is in line with these targets, so of course the central government would offer economic assistance.

Lin Chia-lung
New Taiipei City mayoral candidate (DPP)
Transport minister Wang Kwo-tsai and the people in the ministry really support this. Implementing this plan in Taipei and New Taipei would cost NT$1 billion more or less. For Keelung and Taoyuan, that’s about NT$700 million. We have run the numbers, and worked out concrete details. It’s feasible.

On the countdown to Election Day, the four DPP candidates presented their policy proposal together, in hopes of attracting the votes of urban dwellers in Northern Taiwan.

2022-11-08

Taichung mayoral candidate blasts Lu Shiow-yen for taking time off before elections

2022-11-08

Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chi-mai opens mini funfair at campaign headquarters

2022-11-08

Taipei First Girls High School marching band to perform at Rose Parade in US

The marching band at Taipei First Girls High School will be representing Taipei at the Rose Parade in the U.S. on Jan. 2, 2023. In total, 135 students and teachers from the high school will be traveling across the Pacific to take part in the event. The marching band will be performing many Disney classics, and trying out complex formations to impress even the most seasoned marching band fans. The trip is partly sponsored by the Taipei government, which put forward NT$3 million so that Taiwan could be seen at the parade once again after 18 years.

They move in perfect sync, impressing the crowd. Then it’s time to change formation, a true test of skill.

After 18 years without, the marching band at Taipei First Girls High School has been invited once again to take part in the Rose Parade in the U.S.

Huang Yu-chieh
Marching band captain
Once we heard the news we were very excited. We’re very happy to have this opportunity.

Chien Yi-shan
Marching band captain
Part of the itinerary includes a parade at Disneyland. So most of our musical pieces are related to Disney. The Rose Parade is two hours long. So we did special training for that during the summer break.

To put on the best show possible, students rehearsed through the heat of summer. In their performance, they’ll be adding new songs and formations, including one with the three Chinese characters in their school’s name.

Wu Chi-chun
Marching band captain
We’ll have a lot of people in the parade, 50 people. So the formations will be very striking. In the end we will form the Chinese characters for Taipei First Girls High School.

The marching band at the high school previously took part in the Rose Parade in 1996 and 2005. This time around, 135 teachers and students will be part of the delegation. That means travel costs of more than NT$10 million. It was only thanks to a NT$3 million sponsorship from the Taipei government that the band is able to set off for the U.S.

Ko Wen-je
Taipei mayor
We expect there to be hundreds of thousands of people at the parade. And more than 10 million will be watching a broadcast on their screens. It is an opportunity for Taiwan to step out to the world. I would really like to thank Taipei First Girls High School, for representing Taipei and engaging in city diplomacy after 18 years.

The marching band members are excited to get going. It is the third time that the band from the school will take part in the grand parade, showing to the world just what Taiwan’s younger generations are capable of.

2022-11-08

National Palace Museum director speaks to lawmakers about broken artifacts

The director of National Palace Museum on Tuesday went to the Legislative Yuan to report on the museum’s measures to be more transparent about damages and repairs to the museum’s collection. The report comes amid claims that the museum had tried to cover up stories of mishaps. Museum director Wu Mi-cha said investigations had revealed that one of the broken ceramic pieces that recently caught media attention had been broken due to negligence. That’s in contrast with a Qing-era painting that was cut intentionally to fit a display case. To increase transparency, Wu says the museum will make public documentation on all the items damaged and restored since 1959.

This is a Qing dynasty era painting of the old floating bridge that crossed the Yellow River in the Chinese city of Lanzhou. It was recently reported that the National Palace Museum, where the piece is housed, had cropped the painting to fit it into a display case. Museum director Wu Mi-cha on Tuesday reported on the issue at the legislature.

Wu Mi-cha
National Palace Museum director
This is a very serious mistake. It’s also different from what happened recently when artifacts were damaged due to negligence. This was a case of someone giving an order to cut the painting.

Wu promised the museum would make public as much information as it can about damaged artifacts. He added that one of the three broken items recently reported on by local media had been broken due to neglect, but details on how other two items were damaged remain unclear. The Control Yuan has also launched its own investigation into the matter. Lawmaker Huang Kuo-shu said records show that 359 items have been repaired by the museum to date, and asked why the public was not informed when those items were damaged.

Wu Mi-cha
National Palace Museum director
You can now look at the records of restorations done over the past several decades. That information is completely open to the public.

With three items having been found damaged in the course of one year, some have questioned whether there is a problem with the museum’s operational procedures. DPP Legislator Chang Liao Wan-chien has suggested a reshuffle of the museum’s personnel.

Su Tseng-chang
Premier
A reshuffle will happen anyway as part of the Executive Yuan’s next reorganization. It doesn’t need to be done more urgently than that. What matters is that the museum can operate well, that’s the top priority.

The premier said the Executive Yuan respected the museum’s operational model, but that it also strongly supported change where change is needed.

2022-11-08

Taoyuan couple buy dream home with hard work and smart strategy

Many young people in Taiwan today feel that owning their own home is an impossible dream. But some are determined to make the impossible a reality. Let’s meet a young couple in Taoyuan, who with many years’ hard work and a smart strategy, have managed to buy their dream home.

At this restaurant in Taoyuan’s Neili District, five dogs serve as the most enthusiastic members of staff.
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Restaurant owner Yang Chi-hung recalls how he and his wife opened the restaurant seven years ago, building on their experience in the hospitality industry.

Yang Chi-hung
Pet-friendly restaurant owner
I went a whole year with no days off. I was working about 14 hours a day.

Picking up a cup and making foam art is muscle memory by now. Four years ago, the couple’s monthly income was gradually approaching NT$100,000. They were saving up for a home, but couldn’t afford the soaring prices in Taipei or New Taipei. So they chose Taoyuan, and decided on a home in Neili District worth about NT$5 million for their first property.

Yang Chi-hung
Pet-friendly restaurant owner
Even I thought it was very courageous. If we failed then that would be it. The mortgage was NT$22,000. I think the loan increment was more than NT$10,000. So overall, just the mortgage was more than NT$30,000.

Wife of restaurant owner
We saw some houses that were NT$5 million, NT$6 million and NT$7 million. But at that time I didn’t think we’d ever buy something for NT$7 million. I think for your first house, you should just get what you can, and later you can get something nicer. You shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself all at once.

After three years’ hard work, the couple were able to buy a three-bedroom, 50-ping house in Zhongli They lived there for four years, and then decided to upgrade. They renovated to attract buyers, and in the end, the house they had bought for NT$7.8 million was sold for NT$13.16 million. With money in their pocket, they could move into a spacious 80-ping home in Pingzhen, which they bought for NT$19.9 million.

Wife of restaurant owner
The agent sold the old house for us in two weeks. We had four, five or six potential buyers come in for a viewing every day. Maybe it was because we had renovated. Because, although I’m not so involved in the restaurant business right now, because I have to focus on caring for our children, I do have another job at home, selling cosmetics.

Yang Chi-hung
Pet-friendly restaurant owner
There’s more stress now. If I hadn’t moved there wouldn’t be any stress. We could live easily. But I moved. I’ve got expectations for myself. I want to live better, because it was really tough in the past.

In these days of high interest rates and inflation, even white-collar workers’ salaries can’t keep up with the runaway housing market. For middle class people to win at the property game, they need to make a step-by-step smart strategy like this family, be willing to move house repeatedly, and commit fully to the dream.

2022-11-08

Rare astronomical event as blood moon momentarily covers Uranus in night sky

2022-11-08

Wild animal vet Chen Yun-shih honored for lifetime of service to Taiwanese fauna

2022-11-08

‘Uncoverings: The Search for Identity in Lithuanian Photography’ opens in Taipei