Taiwanese Artist Suling Wang to receive 2023 U.S. Department of State Medal of Arts at White House on Sept. 13
On Sept. 13, the U.S Department of State’s Office of Art in Embassies will honor Taiwanese Artist Suling Wang with the 2023 U.S. Department of State Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony. Wang is the first Taiwanese artist to receive this award. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Art in Embassies, celebrating its enduring commitment to cultural exchange and diplomacy.
The Medal of Arts award is an honorary award presented by the U.S. Department of State to recognize artists who have made outstanding contributions to cultural diplomacy and the mission of the arts. This art medal was established in 2012 by Art in Embassies. Its primary purpose is to formally acknowledge artists who have played an exceptional role in advancing cultural diplomacy. Through their artistic works, these artists help deepen people's understanding of American culture and values while promoting cultural exchange on an international level.
Recipients of the State Department Medal of Arts come from various artistic fields, including painting, sculpture, photography and performing arts, and their works are widely exhibited in different countries. These artists' creations serve as bridges of culture, facilitating cross-cultural dialogue, expression and understanding, while highlighting shared experiences among nations, cultures and backgrounds.
Wang was born and raised in Taichung City and is renowned for her large-scale abstract paintings that delve into the interplay of Eastern and Western cultures. Wang graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Saint Martins in London and subsequently earned her Master of Arts degree from the Royal College of Art in 1999. Following her academic journey, she gained international recognition with invitations to exhibit and collect her work in museums and galleries worldwide.
Art in Embassies commissioned Wang to create one of her most substantial oil and acrylic on canvas paintings to date, titled "The Singing River 2," for the American Institute in Taipei, Taiwan. This remarkable artwork, completed in 2016, stands at over seven feet in height and stretches nearly thirty feet in length. It draws inspiration from the landscapes of her childhood in Taiwan, subsequent transformations and the rich cross-cultural dialogues bridging the histories of Eastern and Western art. In 2019, Wang was honored at the Artist x Artist Gala by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C.
For more information please visit:
Art in Embassies website (https://art.state.gov/medal-of-arts/)
A photograph of Suling Wang with her artwork. (Image courtesy of Art Emperor website, provided by CHINI Gallery)
《The Singing River 2》(Image courtesy of Art in Embassies)
