Organized by the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, the 24th National Large-Sized Oil Painting Exhibition is being held from today until January 4, 2026, at Exhibition Room A of the Taichung City Seaport Art Center. Since its establishment in 2002, this exhibition has remained the only national event in Taiwan dedicated exclusively to large-sized oil paintings. Over the years, it has become a vital platform for artists to showcase their creativity and techniques, as well as an important indicator of the diversity and depth of contemporary oil painting in Taiwan.

The exhibition not only features several esteemed senior artists from across Taiwan but also attracts many emerging creators through its call for submission, offering a total prize pool of NT$600,000. This year, a new Merit Award with a prize of NT$20,000 has been introduced, while the First Prize has been increased to NT$300,000—awarded to a retired elder from Pingtung—truly embodying the spirit and charm of art that transcends age. A total of 49 award-winning entries and 46 invited works are showcased in this year’s exhibition, presenting a diverse range of themes and styles that reflect profound insights and delicate portrayals of contemporary life. Beyond their technical mastery and aesthetic depth, the featured works also respond to social dynamics and life issues—from aging, growth, struggles to cultural memory—each serving as a sincere interpretation of the human heart and the emotions of everyday life by artists.

According to Director Chen Chia-chun of the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, with the opening of the city’s new cultural landmark—the Green Museumbrary—Taichung is entering a new era of cultural development. The timing of this year’s National Large-Sized Oil Painting Exhibition thus holds even greater significance. Creating large-sized oil paintings presents a tough challenge for artists, requiring a balance of narrative strength, spatial awareness, and structural thinking. The resulting visual impact evokes the grandeur of monumental works found in European palaces and cathedrals, offering audiences an awe-inspiring and unforgettable visual experience.

Chen Huang-yi, Chair of the Jury and Director of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, remarked that the National Large-Sized Oil Painting Exhibition has long embodied the spirit of encouraging artists to take on the challenge of “grandeur” in their creations. Although the participating artists come from different generations, their works share a common thread—each reflects the concerns, emotions, and experiences unique to their own time. For instance, First Prize winner Lai,Shih-chang’s “Care for the Elderly Until Life’s End” portrays the elderly with delicate realism, integrating symbols of time and life in the background to express a profound concern for the subject of aging. Second Prize winner Liao,Min-ju’s “Step into the Slumbering Forest in Search of Light” features a monumental depiction of a young girl set against a dreamlike backdrop, exploring the uncertainty and discovery inherent in one’s journey of growth. Third Prize winner Wu,Si-hua’s “Lingering Warmth” draws inspiration from a traditional Taiwanese grocery store, using spatial composition and light and shadow to create a theatrical atmosphere that evokes a sense of emotional resonance with shared local life memories in Taiwan.

This year’s exhibition is not only a celebration of artistic creation but also a cross-generational dialogue and a testament to the passing of artistic heritage. Running from today until January 4, 2026, it is being held at Exhibition Room A of the Taichung City Seaport Art Center. All art enthusiasts are warmly invited to visit, appreciate the works, and experience the powerful visual impact and emotional resonance of large-sized oil paintings. For more information, please visit the Taichung City Seaport Art Center’s official website (https://tcsac.taichung.gov.tw/) or its official Facebook page.