By Stephanie Chao, the Eye on Taiwan
Taiwan’s diplomatic ally, the Dominican Republic, is hosting an art festival at Taipei’s Grand Hotel, where visitors are able to feast on the Dominican cuisine and viewing the Caribbean country’s artworks and jewelry for an all-around experience of the Dominican culture.
The exhibition, which features artworks related to the Dominican life, landscape and the local’s ties with religion, will last until March 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Around 20 pieces of artworks and 14 sculptures are on display during the festival, featuring masterpieces by famous Dominican artists such as lberto Houellemont, Ariel Soto, Carlos Hidalgo, José Cestero, Henry Santana, Julio Susana, Luis Oviedo, Melanio Guzmán, Miguel Gómez, Miguel Nuñez, Ramón Sandoval and Rafael Trinidad.
The Dominican cuisine is served at The Grand Hotel’s Grand Steak restaurant both for lunch and dinner.
For the jewelry exhibition, those on displays include the Caribbean country’s precious “Larimar” stones — famous for their blue and calming turquoise colors — and other rare stones that can only be found in the Dominican Republic only.
Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu, who attended the opening ceremony on Monday, spoke of Dominican sculptor Ramiro Matos González’s patriotism that shines through his exhibited works.
Wu also spoke of Taiwan’s long-standing encouragement of Taiwanese businesses to invest in Dominica. He said Taiwan’s Central American Trade Office will be sending a delegation to the Dominican Republic to help the country promote its export of cocoa and coffee to Taiwan, thereby increasing economic flow between the two countries.
Most of González’s sculptures not only reflects his patriotism to his country but also his observation of how different materials can be molded together into a geometric style for a specific effect.
González, speaking to the Eye on Taiwan through translation, said he hoped the Taiwanese audience would be able to enjoy his works and that he is happy to be able to exhibit his artworks in Taiwan.