March 26, 2025
Hosted by the Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts (TMoFA), the 2025 Taoyuan International Art Award (TIAA) aims to foster diverse artistic development and nurture contemporary art talents. Through an international open call, selected artists are invited to exhibit their works in Taoyuan, strengthening global artistic exchange. Following the preliminary review in June last year (2024), 11 shortlisted works were selected from a total of 1161 entries from 83 countries to compete for the award. After an extensive final review by an international jury panel, the Grand Prize was awarded to Chulayarnnon Siriphol, Kasamaponn Saengsuratham, Arjin Thongyuukong, and Krongpong Langkhapin for the work Red Eagle Sangmorakot: No More Hero In His Story. The Sojourn Award was won by Taiwanese artist duo Working Hard (She Wen Ying, Kuo Po Yu) for Sleep in Fish (Ikan Kapan Bobok), while the Honorable Mention was granted to three artists: The Japanese artist duo couch (Hiroki Miyazaki and Reiko Asao) for A fable of a fable <Wildcat>, American duo Kevin Corcoran and Jorge Bachmann for Refrained Invocations (Encodings), and Lee Tek Khean for Gai Gaau. All 11 shortlisted works, including the award-winning pieces, will be on display at the Taoyuan Arts Center from March 26 to May 18.
The Grand Prize winners this year—Chulayarnnon Siriphol, Kasamaponn Saengsuratham, Arjin Thongyuukong, and Krongpong Langkhapin— span a range of disciplines including visual art, anthropology, and traditional Muay Thai practice. Their work, Red Eagle Sangmorakot: No More Hero In His Story, uses Muay Thai as a narrative vessel, combining anthropological research with artistic creation. Through performance and moving images, the work unveils how Cold War politics and nationalism have shaped the Thai society, while examining the constructed “hero” archetype within Thailand’s broader cultural currents and its subtle ideological influence. Jury chair Reuben Keehan remarked: “This is a work that deftly combines documentary, archival research, and performative strategies—one that is both artistic and ethnographic in nature and resonates with viewers through a form that transcends conventional documentary.” The jury panel unanimously praised the work for its curatorial approach, artistic execution, and the team’s interdisciplinary collaboration.
Regarding this year’s participating works, the jury remarked: “Collaborative modes of practice have significantly expanded within the field of contemporary art over the past decade. Cross-disciplinary collaboration allows artists to more effectively respond to complex and evolving questions—an approach that is clearly reflected in this year’s submissions. We are pleased to see the level of preparedness and ambition among global applicants, which reveals a strong desire to engage with this international platform. Furthermore, in an era of rapidly advancing digital technology, artists are increasingly concerned with the notion of ‘authenticity,’ and must take on the responsibility of resisting fabricated truths.” Chang Chih-Min, TMoFA Acting Director and convener of the award, added: “The core spirit of the TIAA lies in offering artists the rare opportunity to engage directly with leading international jurors. Inviting experts from diverse backgrounds ensures that each artist’s original intent is viewed from multiple perspectives. This multilayered process of evaluation and dialogue is precisely the kind of inclusive artistic discourse that TMoFA strives to foster.”
In addition to showcasing outstanding works from around the world, the international jury panel is a defining feature of the award. The preliminary review committee for this edition was composed of Abby Chen, Head of Contemporary Art and Curator at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco; Reuben Keehan, Curator at Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art in Australia; Sunjung Kim, Artistic Director of Art Sonje Center in Seoul, South Korea; Wang Po-Wei, Artistic Director of the Digital Art Foundation in Taiwan; and Lu Pei-Yi, Associate Professor at National Taipei University of Education. The final review was convened by Chang Chih-Min, TMoFA Acting Director, along with two additional jury members: David Teh, Associate Professor of National University of Singapore, and Zoe Chia-Jung Yeh, Director of Hong-Gah Museum.
The “2025 Taoyuan International Art Award” exhibition is now open and will run until Sunday, May 18, at the Taoyuan Arts Center. The international open call for the 2027 edition will be announced in 2026.
