Digital Hyperlink – A New, Creative Taipei

　　Today, in an era in which digital technology is constantly changing, the development of the cultural and creative industries and the digital content industry is already accepted by society as a trend of the future, part of the general movement of globalization. In recent years, with the effective integration and development of public and private resources in Taipei City, we have laid down an excellent basic infrastructure for culture and drawn up a far-sighted blueprint for the future. Taipei has become an important benchmark city for Taiwan’s cultural and creative industries. Yet as high technology and the arts constantly improve, they have dissolved world borders and united the local and the international. In this context, integrating resources and capabilities to facilitate our city’s cultural and creative industries has become a major administrative objective of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government. Digital art, in particular, is a good example of interdisciplinary integration. Through the combination of artistic creation and digital technology, we can promote our city’s tourism industry and raise our profile in the world.

　　Digital Art Festival Taipei opened as a digital art platform with the theme “Aura Spurt” in 2006. In 2007 it was succeeded by “Openplay,” dedicated to deeply integrating art into public life. This year, “Trans” releases a new paradigm for digital art. Building on previous festivals, we have entered a crucial year of innovation. Every year, these festivals are like banquets of technology and art for the public, a way to appreciate digital artworks by artists domestic and foreign. Through international exchange, the festival promotes the creative energy of digital art. From our country’s contributions, we can see that the works from Taiwan are rooted in our culture and our lives, reflecting the present state of the Taiwanese experience.  

　　The concept guiding the planning of the third Digital Art Festival Taipei is the hope that industry and academia can take part in a “digital art platform” in an interdisciplinary manner to expand extra-governmental resources. In addition to continuing the festival’s four core activities, we have reached out to invite a variety of academic organizations in an open forum. The participants will include the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei; the K. T. Creativity Award; the Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development of National Central University; the K.T. Li Foundation for Development of Science and Technology; and the Department of Applied Music of Tainan National University of the Arts. They are cooperating to promote the integrated technology and art of Taiwan, build bridges between academia and industry, and encourage the Taiwanese creative digital industry.

　　In this interactive exhibition, visitors can use their eyes, ears and hands and so come to understand the fascination of life, art, and technology. They can see how Taiwanese culture drives our modern lives, and feel the creative vision of both international artists and their own contemporaries. The participation of the public will greatly enrich and enliven these events. We cordially invite everyone who enjoys life to enter and become immersed in the sensory world of “Trans.”