Open call for eighth Lih Pao Sculpture Biennial Awards

The eighth Lihpao Sculpture Biennial Awards, co-organized by the Lihpao Cultural Arts Foundation and the Austrian Office Taipei, with support from the Ministry of Culture, held a press conference on May 7 to announce its global call for entries, open until September 30. Since its inception, the Lihpao Sculpture Biennial Awards has attracted 1,347 artists from 68 countries, with over a hundred winners emerging from the competition.

Wu Pao-tien, Chairman of the Lihpao Group, stated, “This edition of the Sculpture Biennial is held in collaboration with the Austrian Office Taipei. Austria possesses a profound cultural heritage and holds a significant position on the world's cultural map. We aim to provide a platform through the Lihpao Sculpture Biennial Awards for artists worldwide to spark creative inspiration. This is not only a tribute to Austria's outstanding artistic achievements but also a significant milestone in the cultural exchange between Taiwan and Austria.”

Christian Helbig, Representative of the Austrian Office Taipei, stated, “The significance of the Lihpao Sculpture Biennial Awards extends far beyond a mere competition; it serves as a vital cultural bridge connecting the global art community. This year, Austria is deeply honored to collaborate with Lihpao for this Biennial. I am confident that together, we will create an extraordinary and brilliant artistic event.”

Presented during the press conference, the official promotional video centers on the theme “What is sculpture?” to interrogate the very essence of the medium. The video illustrates that sculpture is both subtraction and addition—a process of cutting and stacking, of repetitive striking and continuous shaping. It is an art form bound to time, yet it also extends into the intricate relationship between light and shadow, body and space. Lihpao invites creators from around the world to participate and respond through their own unique artistic methodologies.

The eighth Lihpao Sculpture Biennial Awards is collaborating with several prestigious academic institutions, including the Department of Sculpture at National Taiwan University of Arts, the School of Fine Arts at Taipei National University of the Arts, and the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts in Japan. A panel of distinguished international figures has been invited to ensure the highest standards of excellence. The panel includes Bartolomeo Pietromarchi, former Art Director of Italy's MAXXI (National Museum of the 21st Century Arts); Takamichi Ito, a leading authority in Japanese sculpture and Professor Emeritus at the Tokyo University of the Arts; and renowned British contemporary sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. They are joined by esteemed Taiwanese sculptors Lai Chi-man and Han Hsu-tung. The collective expertise of these distinguished figures establishes a premier international standing and a broad global vision for this year's competition.

The competition is open to all artists aged 18 and above. Submitted works should primarily consist of materials suitable for long-term display. The First Prize features a cash award of USD 45,000, with the Silver Prize offering USD 25,000. The total prize pool amounts to nearly NT 5 million.