Developing International Creativity, World-class Connection of Interfaces

Taipei as a Cultural Capital for the 21st Century

　　The 21st century is the age of globalization and information. Given this trend, how local governments develop unique cultural characteristics has become extremely important. This is not just the foundation of cultural progress and our citizen’s identification with the city, but also a necessary process for building Taipei’s cultural image. The age of information is upon us, forcing social change and having a revolutionary impact on the development of modern art. New art forms incorporating digital technology have become increasingly prevalent. Digital art is now the fashion in the international art community, and an indicator of technological and cultural development.

　　In recent years, the Taipei City Government has devoted itself to developing the defining characteristics of Taipei as a city. Because Taipei has multiple cultural elements, creative vitality, and abundant energy in art and the humanities, every year it presents a number of exhibitions with digital content that are already well-known internationally. The government has actively developed e-government, e-community and digital life, and invested long-term support and energy into digital art. By holding digital art festivals, we hope to integrate more resources and allow it to grow ever stronger.

　　Digital art is communicative and interactive. It emphasizes interaction between human beings and art installations through the concept of “interfaces.” The Digital Art Festival Taipei is now in its third year. The first year was titled “Aura Spurt,” the second “Openplay.” This year the Festival is titled “Trans”: transcending space and time, connecting creativity. Through diverse interfaces created by both Taiwanese and international artists, the public can travel to different times and spaces to participate in exhibition activities related to “digital, art, life.” Through limitlessly extending interfaces, people can attain new artistic sensory experiences, and be inspired with thoughts and hopes about the future of the city. This year, we are happy to see sponsors support the concept of a digital art platform in cooperation with the Taipei Culture Foundation, the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei and the Tainan National University of the Arts. We hope that it will have a long-term beneficial influence, with Digital Art Center Taipei as a center for research, offering different interfaces for achieving an intelligent city and a quality life, through the cooperation of industry, government, and academia.

　　In this era of interfaces and digitalization, in response to the demands of diverse cultural tastes, the Taipei City Government has undertaken the mission and responsibility to revitalize the city. In the future, Taipei City must promote our international competitiveness and visibility on the fronts of art and culture. We must work hard to cultivate cultural attainment and encourage creativity, understand world trends and integrate all our creative resources, including digital art, as an ever-changing interface. If we can transform Taipei into an intellectual resource base with international connections, we will become a city of innovative cultural content.