Presidential Office showcases indigenous culture in gifts for diplomatic allies
President Tsai Ing-wen will lead a delegation to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands from October 28 through November 4 on a trip with the theme "Sustainable Austronesia, Working Together for a Better Future—2017 State Visits to Pacific Allies." During her trip, the president will present works by indigenous artists from Taiwan as gifts to the heads of state and other political leaders in the countries she is scheduled to visit. On the afternoon of October 26, the Office of the President called a press conference to showcase those gifts. Presidential Office Spokesperson Huang Chung-yen (黃重諺) presided, and Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) Icyang Parod (夷將‧拔路兒), as well as the artists who created the gifts, were on hand to describe the art works and the significance of their selection as gifts.
Spokesperson Huang pointed out that the theme of this trip is "Sustainable Austronesia, Working Together for a Better Future." To highlight the spirit of "Austronesia diplomacy" and emphasize the links among the various Austronesian cultures, 12 artists and arts groups were chosen to create 13 works that reflect Taiwan's indigenous cultures, hoping to engage Taiwan's diplomatic allies on a deeper cultural and artistic level.
Minister Icyang stated that the gifts for this trip were selected by the CIP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the President with two main principles in mind. First, the gifts showcase the folk arts of Taiwan's indigenous peoples. And second, Taiwan hopes to spark dialogue with the cultures of its diplomatic allies, as well as the backgrounds and interests of those countries' heads of state.
Minister Icyang further explained that the 12 selected artists and arts groups are from six different ethnic groups—the Paiwan, Amis, Atayal, Puyuma, Thao, and Tao tribes, and from different generations. Some are young designers, some are middle-aged artists in the prime of their careers, and others are veterans who could well be called living national treasures. Their selection shows that the government supports and values the work being done by artists of all ages.
Commenting on the gifts to be taken on this trip, Minister Icyang said that in addition to traditional and contemporary works, there are also everyday household items developed by cultural and creative firms that show the tremendous diversity and dynamism of Taiwan's indigenous arts, cultural, and creative industries. The government uses these gifts to support our diplomacy, and wants them to be seen by Taiwanese citizens so that indigenous artists and arts groups can enjoy broader support.
Anyone interested in purchasing these items, he said, can either contact the artists directly or buy them online, giving indigenous cultural and creative industries concrete support.
Minister Icyang pointed out that the government has long encouraged and helped artists and arts groups to become more entrepreneurial. The CIP, for example, has launched an entrepreneurship support program that is now in its third year, and some of the gifts selected for this trip were created under the auspices of that program. In the future, the CIP will continue working to cultivate more artists capable of representing Taiwan to the rest of the world.