The silver prize winner, Wei Way, an artist from Taiwan. (Liang Shujing/The Epoch Times)
Li Yuan of Japan and Wei Way of Taiwan spoke at an award ceremony held at the Salmagundi Art Club in New York City on Dec. 4.
Li Yuan was honored for his painting, “Imprisoned Dafa Practitioner.” He said that the competition hosted by New Tang Dynasty TV has “importance far greater than that of other competitions because it signifies the beginning of a return to traditional culture.”
Speaking about his painting, Li said, “I chose a very simple compositional style to illustrate the main theme of the painting—a Falun Dafa practitioner under persecution and in pain but with a spirit full of brightness and faithfulness. I chose not to portray him as a hero as might have been done in the past.”
Wei Way of Taiwan was honored for his painting “Old Woman Who Patches Clothes.” He said the subject of the painting was drawn from a childhood memory of rural China--an old woman living a simple, quiet life in a farming village. He intended his painting as a tribute to the peaceful and caring path of pure truth, compassion, and beauty.
Wei had not won recognition in last year’s competition, though he had made it to the short list of finalists. He spoke of his process of learning and improving from that experience. He also said that entries this year were of an even finer quality.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity of participating in the contest this year. The competition is helping to create a cultural renaissance. Realistic painting in Taiwan is still very, very rare,” Wei said.
Read the original Chinese article.
