* This is a sponsored post. 

Taiwan has hundreds of mountains that reach more than 3,000 meters above sea level. With its unique topography, the island is also home to a diversity of precious natural resources. Among its many mountains, Yushan or Mount Jade, at an elevation of 3,952 meters, is the highest and has become a spiritual symbol of Taiwan.

Inspired by the spirit of Mount Jade, E.Sun Bank was established in 1992. Headquartered in Taipei, it has 139 domestic branches and 28 business locations in nine countries and regions. In celebration of E.Sun Bank’s 30th anniversary and to showcase its love for Taiwan, the bank established the E.Sun Awards to support artistic creations. This year, in addition to offering NTD 1 million (USD 35,500) to the first prize winner, an international category has been included.

The theme of the E.Sun Awards is Yushan National Park’s landscapes and its historical and cultural characteristics. Oil, acrylic, and gouache paintings will be accepted. The submission period is from now until August 31, 2022, 11:59pm Taipei time. Participating categories are divided into general public, student, and international. Taiwan nationals may submit entries in the general public and student categories. Non-Taiwan nationals, whether based in or outside of Taiwan, should submit entries in the international category.

In the international category, one first prize winner, one to three special prize winners, and one to five merit award winners will be chosen. These winners will each receive a cash prize, certificate, and special publication featuring their award-winning work. The total prize for the international category is USD 130,000. The winning works in each category will be included in a traveling exhibition around Taiwan, for which the organizer will cover the costs of shipping works to Taiwan.

The E.Sun Awards were previously held in 2012 and 2017, receiving enthusiastic support from artists and the public with more than 2,800 works submitted. In addition to local artists’ participation, well-known and established artists were invited to exhibit their works. Through their brush strokes, artists depict the diverse landscapes and rich sentiments of Mount Jade, and through the exhibition of outstanding paintings, the public enjoyed the authenticity, goodness, and beauty of art.

For more information, please visit esunbank.com.

Open call for submissions: March 8 – August 31, 2022