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<p><strong>1. Department Mission and Educational Objectives</strong></p>
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<li>To provide fundamental knowledge and professional skills in sculpture.</li>
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<li>To cultivate talents in contemporary sculptural art creation.</li>
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<li>To integrate the cultural and artistic characteristics of East and West, expanding the stage for sculptural creativity.</li>
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<p><strong>2. Department History of Sculpture</strong></p>
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<p>The modernization of sculpture in Taiwan can be traced back to the early 20th century, beginning with Huang Tu-Shui (1895–1930), who studied modern sculpture in Japan. Although his promising career was cut short, his works left a significant legacy. Over time, others also studied abroad and returned to Taiwan, but due to the absence of sculpture programs in local schools, they had limited opportunities to pass on their knowledge.</p>
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<p>In 1962, the National Academy of Arts established the Department of Fine Arts, which included three divisions: Chinese Painting, Western Painting, and Sculpture. By 1967, Sculpture became an independent division, marking the formal beginning of academic sculpture education in Taiwan. In 1994, the institution was upgraded to an academy, and in 2001, it became a university. That same year, a graduate institute of sculpture was established, making it the only higher education institution in Taiwan to offer a specialized program in sculpture. Over nearly six decades, the department has nurtured nearly a thousand sculptural talents.</p>
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<p>Early sculpture education in Taiwan was influenced by the academic system from mainland China, and key faculty members included Chiu Yun, Ho Ming-Chi, and Yang Yu-Yu. Influenced by Japanese and Western modern sculpture, they fostered the development of native Taiwanese sculptors. Faculty members such as Ho Hong-Hsiung, Ren Jau-Ming, Chen Chen-Huei, Wang Ching-Tai, Wei Dao-Hui, Kao Tsan-Hsing, and Yeh Jenn-Tsang remained at the school to teach. Some pursued further studies abroad and later returned to contribute to education, while others taught sculpture in vocational art schools, extending their influence across different levels of the Taiwanese art scene.</p>
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<p>In the beginning, instruction focused primarily on modeling. Later, the curriculum expanded to include stone carving, wood carving, metalwork, and mixed media, forming the comprehensive teaching structure seen today. In recent years, the department has strengthened international exchanges and improved facilities and learning spaces. To cultivate sculptors with both critical thinking and technical skills, the faculty now includes not only practicing sculptors but also two sculpture theory instructors and one visiting professor, further enriching the teaching team.</p>
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<p>1962</p>
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<p>The Department of Fine Arts was established at the National Academy of Arts, offering three divisions: Chinese Painting, Western Painting, and Sculpture, with a three-year curriculum.</p>
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<p>1967</p>
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<p>The Sculpture Division was formally separated and established as an independent Department of Sculpture.</p>
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<p>1994</p>
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<p>The school was upgraded to the National Institute of the Arts, and the Department of Sculpture was restructured into a four-year undergraduate program, becoming the Department of Sculpture.</p>
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<p>2000</p>
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<p>The Graduate Institute of Plastic Arts was established, comprising five divisions: Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, Western Painting, Visual Communication Design, Craft Design, and Sculpture.</p>
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<p>2001</p>
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<p>The institution was renamed National Taiwan University of Arts. The Department of Sculpture became part of the College of Fine Arts, and remains the only university-level department in Taiwan focusing exclusively on sculpture.</p>
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<p>2007</p>
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<p>The Master's program in Sculpture was officially established, completing the integration of undergraduate and graduate education within the department.</p>
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<p><strong>3. Features of the Department of Sculpture</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Final Review System</strong></p>
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<li>To ensure objectivity and fairness in evaluating studio-based courses, a comprehensive assessment system is implemented.</li>
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<li>All final works for practical courses are reviewed collectively by the department’s faculty.</li>
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<li>External reviewers are invited for graduate-level critiques to provide diverse and professional perspectives.</li>
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<li>Evaluation criteria include artistic quality, technical execution, and overall coherence. Graduate students must also present an oral defense.</li>
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<li>Students are required to submit a statement of creative intent to strengthen the connection between thinking and making.</li>
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<p><strong>Intensive Course Schedule</strong></p>
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<li>Three 18-week, once-a-week courses are restructured into a 6-week intensive format, meeting three times a week.</li>
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<li>This model helps reduce end-of-semester stress while increasing focus and learning effectiveness.</li>
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<li>The compact schedule allows students to achieve more concentrated and clearly defined learning outcomes.</li>
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<p><strong>International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition</strong></p>
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<li>A shoebox-sized sculpture exhibition is held every spring semester, featuring flexible formats and diverse themes.</li>
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<li>Student competitions with awards and prize money are organized to encourage participation and creativity.</li>
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<li>The exhibition often tours domestically or is invited to commercial venues, expanding student exposure.</li>
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<li>Faculty members and international partner institutions are also invited to exhibit, fostering global exchange.</li>
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<p><strong>Annual Exhibition</strong></p>
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<li>Held every fall semester, this joint faculty-student exhibition is a major platform for presenting creative achievements.</li>
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<li>Large-scale sculptures form the main body of the exhibition, highlighting both teaching outcomes and student creativity.</li>
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<li>A student competition is also held with prizes and awards to support artistic practice.</li>
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<li>Full-time and adjunct faculty, as well as alumni, are invited to participate, promoting intergenerational dialogue and professional exchange.</li>
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<p><strong>Studio-Based Learning System</strong></p>
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<li>The department provides multiple dedicated studios where students can focus on creative work in a safe environment.</li>
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<li>Each studio is led by a faculty member specializing in a specific material, offering technical instruction and creative mentoring.</li>
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<li>Inter-studio collaboration is encouraged to promote cross-disciplinary artistic practice.</li>
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<li>The studio system supports vertical knowledge transmission and peer-based horizontal learning.</li>
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<li>Long-term collaboration helps students develop professionalism and ethical working habits.</li>
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<li>It also cultivates a strong sense of teamwork and deep creative bonds among peers.</li>
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<p><strong>4. Future Development Plans</strong></p>
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<li>Strengthen both localized and international perspectives in the curriculum to establish a globally oriented foundation for sculpture education.</li>
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<li>Actively promote domestic and international academic exchanges and exhibitions to deepen cross-cultural artistic collaboration.</li>
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<li>Build a scholarly framework for sculpture in Taiwan, establishing key developmental directions and theoretical foundations for local sculptural practices.</li>
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<li>Continue cultivating contemporary sculptural artists with innovative thinking and strong practical skills.</li>
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<p></p>
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