On June 8, 2025, the “Keelung 2025 Midsummer Arts Gala — An Elegant Gathering of the Arts” was grandly held in northern Taiwan’s Keelung City. Organized by the Association of Taiwanese Professionals and Taiwan Transcendence Center for Advanced Study in Humanities, the event was part of the ongoing series “Synergy of Academia, Technology, and the Arts.”
About the Keelung Midsummer Arts Gala
The Keelung 2025 Midsummer Arts gala presented a vibrant showcase of cultural expression, featuring a cheongsam (qipao) fashion show, poetry recitations, folk dances and vocal performances, and live calligraphy demonstrations. From traditional ink art to contemporary stage performances, the evening offered a rich sensory experience. The atmosphere was both lively and elegant, characterized by artistic sophistication and profound cultural resonance.
Watch the following video on “Keelung 2025 Midsummer Arts Gala” for more interesting images.
Dozens of local artists attended the Keelung 2025 Midsummer Arts Gala, among them Tao Qingshan (陶晴山), a renowned master of calligraphy and ink-wash landscape painting. Celebrated for his bold brushstrokes and rich ink application, Tao skillfully contrasts these with lighter tones to achieve a harmonious balance of depth and subtlety. His creative philosophy centers on two core pursuits: artistic intent (意) and the evocation of an artistic realm (境). His work highlights the interplay of rhythm and brushwork, merging a deep grounding in traditional techniques with a distinctive personal style.
Another notable artist at the Keelung 2025 Midsummer Arts Gala was Lian Shengyan (連勝彦), a direct disciple of renowned modern Taiwanese calligrapher Master Cao Rong (曹容, 1895-1993). A recipient of prestigious honors such as the ROC Art Association’s Golden Goblet Award and the Gold Award from the Tokyo Museum of Art, Lian has published extensively on calligraphy and led delegations to international exchange exhibitions across Asia and the United States.
Keelung: A Cultural Crossroads with Global Ties
Located at Taiwan’s northernmost tip, Keelung is a port city with a population of 360,000. It has long served as one of Taiwan’s key gateways to the world. Originally developed under Governor Liu Mingchuan during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), Keelung became a major link between Japan and Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period (1912-1945). After the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan, it once served as a major U.S. military port and has since remained one of the country’s most vital international harbors.
Keelung’s strategic port continues to facilitate global connections, now welcoming a growing number of international cruise ships — 135 in 2024 alone, with even more expected in 2025. Beyond trade and tourism, Keelung is emerging as a city rich in culture and the arts.
A Vision for the Future: Center for Transcendent Studies
The Association of Taiwanese Professionals is currently establishing the Transcendence Center for Advanced Study in Humanities in Keelung. The center aims to collaborate with leading institutions, such as the University of Oxford, fostering international research and academic exchange. It aspires to become Taiwan’s first globally recognized center for humanities and social sciences research, with a long-term vision of establishing an Oxford campus in Taiwan.
A series of upcoming forums will explore key questions in future humanities research, the intersection of humanities and technology—especially artificial intelligence — and the application of academic knowledge in practical domains. These include initiatives to promote standards and certification for trustworthy AI, as well as platforms for evaluating, mentoring, and showcasing artists. These events will serve as crucial channels for interdisciplinary and international academic cooperation.
Launching the Artist Empowerment Platform
As a cornerstone initiative of this broader vision, the “Artist Empowerment Platform” officially launched with the Ink and Aesthetics Summit Forum held on September 15, 2024. This forum brought together prominent calligraphers and painters from across Taiwan to explore whether objective standards could be applied to evaluate calligraphy, thereby reevaluating the essential nature and value of calligraphic art.
Following this, the establishment of the platform, a curated collection has been created. Titled “An Elegant Gathering of the Arts: A Selection of Works from the Artist Empowerment Platform, this compilation presents high-quality calligraphy and ink paintings, each accompanied by unique commentary on the artist’s creative philosophy, covering techniques, artistic intent, and innovation. The pieces are also examined through the lenses of Eastern and Western aesthetics, philosophy, and art theory.
This collection stands as a concrete embodiment of the platform’s mission and a shining example of Keelung’s growing role in Taiwan’s cultural and academic renaissance. It not only showcases the creative excellence of contemporary Taiwanese artists but also provides a structured framework for critical appreciation grounded in aesthetics, philosophy, and innovation. As such, it serves as both an artistic milestone and a catalyst for future dialogue between tradition and modernity, local heritage and global discourse.
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