Thai Artist Collective Wins 2025 Taoyuan International Art Award for Groundbreaking Contemporary Work
TAOYUAN, Taiwan – March 26, 2025 – The Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts (TMoFA) today announced the winners of the 2025 Taoyuan International Art Award (TIAA), awarding the Grand Prize to a Thai artist collective for their multidisciplinary work that redefines contemporary art’s engagement with cultural heritage and political history. The winning piece, Red Eagle Sangmorakot: No More Hero In His Story, employs performance, moving image, and anthropological research to examine how Cold War politics and nationalism have constructed heroic archetypes within Thai society.
The award, now in its latest edition, attracted 1,161 submissions from 83 countries, with an international jury panel selecting 11 shortlisted works before awarding the top prize to Chulayarnnon Siriphol, Kasamaponn Saengsuratham, Arjin Thongyuukong, and Krongpong Langkhapin. Their victory highlights a critical shift in the global contemporary art market toward cross-disciplinary collaboration and socially engaged practice. According to the 2025 Art Basel & UBS Global Art Market Report, transaction volume in the contemporary sector reached an all-time high of 132,000 sales in 2024, even as the market bifurcated toward accessible price points under $5,000, which accounted for 81 percent of all contemporary works sold . This democratization creates expanded opportunities for emerging artists from non-Western markets to gain international recognition through platforms like TIAA.
“The winning work exemplifies how contemporary artists are moving beyond traditional mediums to address complex socio-political narratives,” said Chang Chih-Min, Acting Director of TMoFA. “By integrating Muay Thai—a cultural practice deeply embedded in Thai identity—with rigorous anthropological methodology, this collective demonstrates the kind of innovative thinking that propels the entire field forward. The TIAA exists precisely to elevate such visionary approaches.”
The Grand Prize includes a cash award and a prominent exhibition platform at the Taoyuan Arts Center, where Red Eagle Sangmorakot will be displayed alongside the 10 other shortlisted works through May 18, 2025. The piece utilizes body performance and archival research to deconstruct nationalist mythology, resonating with what jury chair Reuben Keehan described as “a form that transcends conventional documentary.” The approach reflects broader market trends favoring experiential and time-based works, particularly among Millennial and Gen Z collectors, who now comprise 25 to 33 percent of fine art auction bidders according to recent UBS research .
Additional honors recognized diverse global practices: Taiwanese duo Working Hard received the Sojourn Award for their immersive installation Sleep in Fish (Ikan Kapan Bobok), while Honorable Mentions went to Japanese duo couch, American collaborators Kevin Corcoran and Jorge Bachmann, and Malaysian artist Lee Tek Khean. The jury panel—comprising experts from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Queensland Art Gallery, Art Sonje Center, and the National University of Singapore—emphasized that collaborative practice has expanded significantly over the past decade, allowing artists to more effectively respond to evolving global questions.
The contemporary art market in the Asia-Pacific region continues to demonstrate resilience despite broader economic headwinds. While Hong Kong auction totals contracted by 32 percent in 2024, regional institutions like TMoFA are strengthening their role as discovery platforms. The TIAA’s open-call model, which imposes no age limit or nationality restrictions, aligns with data showing that ultra-contemporary artists (those under 40) now represent 8 percent of the $1.888 billion global contemporary auction market, with female participation rising steadily . This year’s 1,161 applications mark a 15 percent increase from the previous cycle, indicating heightened demand for equitable international exposure.
The award exhibition runs through May 18, 2025, at the Taoyuan Arts Center (No. 1188, Zhongzheng Rd., Taoyuan District). All award-winning and shortlisted works remain on view, offering collectors, curators, and the public direct engagement with next-generation contemporary practice. The museum will announce its 2027 open call in 2026.
About Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts
The Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts (TMoFA), established under the Taoyuan City Government Department of Cultural Affairs, serves as northern Taiwan’s premier institution for contemporary art presentation and education. Through its International Art Award, Artist Receives International Prize for Contributions to Contemporary Art rotating exhibitions, and community programs, TMoFA fosters cross-cultural dialogue and supports emerging artists from across the globe. The museum’s 3,000-square-meter facility includes galleries, educational spaces, and a digital archive, welcoming over 200,000 visitors annually.
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