The Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center is launching a diverse lineup of arts and cultural programs in May. The memorial exhibition "Roaming in Art: Chen, Chun-Ming Memorial Exhibition of Bamboo and Wood Carving" is now on view, and the Dadun Master Lecture will be held on Saturday, May 16. Ranging from traditional craftsmanship to contemporary media issues, the programs present the many ways in which art engages in dialogue with the times, and members of the public are warmly invited to participate.

This year marks the second anniversary of the passing of bamboo and wood carving artist Chen, Chun-Ming. The Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taichung City Government and the artist’s family have jointly organized this memorial exhibition, which is on view at the Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center through May 6. Director Chen Jiajun of the Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that Chen, Chun-Ming inherited the lineage of traditional craftsmanship and refined a profound artistic foundation through every cut and every stroke. This exhibition not only pays tribute to his artistic achievements, but also leads viewers in looking back on the life journey of a craftsman shaped through the accumulation of time.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that Chen Chun-Ming (1941–2024), born in Taichung into a family of woodcarvers, trained under his father from a young age and devoted his life to bamboo carving. Skilled in incised, relief, and three-dimensional carving, his works are refined and elegant, blending tradition with innovation. He received the National Award for Arts and was designated in 2013 as a preserver of Taichung’s “Traditional Craft—Bamboo Carving,” making significant contributions to Taiwan’s craft heritage.

The exhibition features a wide range of themes, including landscapes, flora and fauna, historical figures, and folk tales, as well as scholar’s objects and sculptures that highlight the versatility of bamboo. A key work, Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, uses moso bamboo roots, preserving natural textures while employing openwork carving to create dynamic, layered compositions. Other pieces such as Eternal Peace, Nine Carp Transforming into a Dragon, and Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix further demonstrate the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics. The Bureau emphasized that bamboo carving demands intense focus and precision, as each cut is irreversible, reflecting the essence of craftsmanship.

In addition, the Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center will hold the Dadun Master Lecture at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, featuring senior news anchor Li, Wen-Yi, who will speak on the topic "On Screen and Behind the Scenes: New Challenges for News Anchors" and share the changes and challenges faced by journalists in the age of AI and digital transformation. Online registration for the lecture will open at 9 a.m. on April 27, and members of the public are welcome to sign up and participate（https://gov.tw/txU）.

As artificial intelligence and information communication continue to develop rapidly, the news media face unprecedented change. Drawing on her frontline experience, Li, Wen-Yi will analyze changes in the media environment and discuss how journalism can continue to exert its influence in an age of information overload. She stated that a news anchor is not only a messenger of information, but also bears the responsibility of interpretation and gatekeeping. In the tide of technological change, how to maintain both depth and warmth has become an important issue for contemporary media.

The Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center pointed out that Li, Wen-Yi is currently an anchor of Taiwan Headlines on SET News, and the host of The Borderless World. She has long worked on the front lines of journalism, has received recognition from the Excellence in Journalism Awards and financial journalism awards, and has taken part in reporting on international issues on many occasions, bringing with her rich professional experience and an international perspective. Through the planning of this exhibition and lecture, it hopes to guide the public, on the one hand, to appreciate the beauty of traditional craftsmanship, and on the other hand, to reflect on trends in contemporary media and technological development, allowing art and life to continue their dialogue on different levels. For more information, please visit the official website of the Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center.