Taipei:Artist Juan Po-yuan received the top prize at the 2026 Taipei Art Awards for his innovative works that explore the evolving meanings of monuments linked to authoritarian rule once they are removed or demolished.

According to Focus Taiwan, Juan was chosen from 276 entries to receive the NT$550,000 prize at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. His award-winning presentation, "Searching for the Nose beneath Fronta na maso," was developed during residencies in Lithuania and the Czech Republic.

One of Juan's works compares the Cihu Memorial Sculpture Park in Taoyuan, which houses relocated Chiang Kai-shek statues, with Grutas Park in Lithuania, known for its Soviet-era monuments. The other work examines the legacy of Prague's Stalin monument through humor and digital mediums.

TFAM Director Loh Li-chen highlighted the annual competition's role in providing emerging artists a platform to address contemporary issues. This year, themes included the interplay of nature and human environments, memory, and new technologies.

Five artists received merit awards, while four others received honorable mentions. The exhibition is open until February 14, 2027.