Established in 1999, the Taiwan Ceramics Awards, the most prestigious competition in Taiwan’s ceramics field, upholds the spirit of “Recognizing Excellence, Shaping the Future, and Enriching the Present.” The Awards comprise three major categories — the Outstanding Contribution Award, the Creative Award, and the Functional Award — providing a platform for ceramic artists to showcase their talent while continuously exploring the boundless possibilities of Taiwanese ceramic culture. The Outstanding Contribution Award aims to set a benchmark for the preservation and promotion of ceramic culture, while the Creative Award and Functional Award are dedicated to fostering innovation and advancement in contemporary ceramic art. Together, these three awards embody the highest recognition of excellence in the field, reflecting both a commitment to preserving Taiwan’s ceramic heritage and a vibrant vision for the future of ceramics in Taiwan.
The Outstanding Contribution Award honors individuals who have made significant and selfless contributions to the preservation, innovation, education, and promotion of Taiwan’s ceramic culture, demonstrating exceptional achievements and profound influence in the field.
CHEN Cheng-Hsun
CHEN Cheng-Hsun, recipient of this year’s Outstanding Contribution Award, was born in Xizhou, Changhua, in 1957. He graduated from the Department of Sculpture of the National Taiwan Academy of Arts in 1978 and later pursued studies in modern ceramics at the Escuela Oficial de Cerámica de Madrid in Spain. His talent has been continually recognized internationally, being selected three times for the Joan Miró International Drawing Prize. After returning to Taiwan in 1985, CHEN fully devoted himself to ceramic creation, using clay as his primary medium. His works fuse the poetic sensibility of the East with the refined simplicity of Western modernism, earning him numerous national and international honors. Through these achievements, CHEN brought Taiwan’s ceramic art onto the global stage.
In addition to his prolific artistic accomplishments, CHEN co-founded Bamboo Curtain Studio in 1995 with fellow artists Margaret Shiu and Marvin Minto Fang, establishing a cross-disciplinary platform for creative exchange. In 2018, he founded the Chen Museum in his hometown of Xizhou. The museum embodies the artist’s creative spirit and deep affection for his homeland, while his tireless efforts continue to advance local art education and breathe new life into Taiwan’s ceramic arts culture.
This exhibition presents 13 of CHEN’s works and 15 models—from his early works to his most recent creations. Blending Eastern and Western cultural perspectives, his monumental geometric forms and restrained lines express a serene view of life, while his use of embedded materials reflects inclusivity and contemplation—a pursuit of purity and stability within minimalist form.
The Creative Award aims to encourage artistic ceramic creation, infusing Taiwan’s ceramic art with renewed vitality through originality and innovative techniques, while showcasing the richness and diversity of contemporary ceramic expression.
This year, a total of 151 works were submitted, with 37 pieces advancing to the second round of selection. From these, one Grand Prize, three Merit Awards, five Honorable Mentions, and twenty-eight Finalists were chosen.
The artist’s exploration of material characteristics and the spirit of the times epitomizes the innovative energy and artistic depth of Taiwanese ceramic art within a multicultural context. Contemporary ceramic artists are not only inheritors of craftsmanship but also independent creators who transform intangible experiences into practical forms. Their creativity stems from profound reflection on life, using ceramics as a medium of free artistic expression that combines diverse materials, techniques, and concepts to present distinctive personal styles.
The Functional Award celebrates the creation of practical ceramic works across a diverse range of forms, including tea sets, tableware, vases, lamps, and ornaments. It encourages artists to integrate creative thinking with functionality, reflecting the refined and versatile aesthetics of contemporary Taiwanese living.
This year, a total of 117 works were submitted, with 29 pieces advancing to the second round of selection. From these, one Grand Prix, three Merit Awards, five Honorable Mentions, and twenty Finalists were chosen.
At the heart of ceramic art lies its deep connection to everyday utility, carrying the creator’s pursuit of beauty and their inner spirit. From form and craftsmanship to material application and daily usability, artists seek a balance between aesthetics and functionality. Their works reflect the strength and innovation of contemporary Taiwanese ceramics in the functional domain, advancing toward the exploration of new materials and the fusion of tradition with technology, opening boundless possibilities for cross-disciplinary creation.