The Greater New York Region Overseas Taiwanese Pen Club held its annual member meeting on January 1st at the APA Hotel Woodbridge in New Jersey, attracting over 90 guests including past presidents, directors, lifetime members, and friends. The event featured four themed lectures covering literature, art, and technology.
Director Wang Yiru of the New York Overseas Community Cultural and Educational Service Center was invited to attend and gave a speech, highlighting the importance of cultural exchange and collaboration in preserving Taiwanese values and heritage. She commended the Pen Club for its dedication to intellectual discourse and cultural enrichment over the past two decades, emphasizing its role as a vital platform for overseas Taiwanese.
The annual meeting included four themed lectures spanning literature, art, and technology. In the morning session, Professor Chen Tingkai, in his nineties, analyzed Shakespeare’s historical play “Henry V,” exploring the transformation of a young king from a prodigal prince to a victorious monarch, touching upon leadership, royal responsibilities, and national spirit to enthusiastic responses from attendees.
In the afternoon, Dr. Lin Jingfu spoke on “Japanese Ukiyo-e and Master Katsushika Hokusai,” delving into the history and artistry of Ukiyo-e prints, focusing on Hokusai’s famous series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.” The session provided insights into the various depictions of Mount Fuji and its significance in Japanese culture as a sacred symbol.
Following that, Taiwanese artist Lin Shipao shared his creative process titled “Artistic Power: Using the Brush as a Sword,” where he discussed his ongoing art project initiated since the outbreak of war on February 24, 2022, creating over a thousand paintings to convey messages of peace and humanitarian care. He established the Shield Art Foundation in New York, organizing exhibitions worldwide and raising funds for post-war reconstruction in Ukraine. In 2025, the foundation signed a long-term cooperation agreement with the city of Mariupol in Ukraine to construct the Taiwan Peace Art Park. Additionally, preparations for the “Peace Bell” are underway, symbolizing peace and unity, aiming to spread its message globally, with plans for it to arrive in New York by the end of February.
The closing lecture by Dr. Lin Qingyong titled “AI: Dreaming for Humanity’s Future” showcased the latest advancements in AI applications in pharmaceutical research, smart healthcare, care systems, and robotics, underscoring the importance of ethical considerations in technological advancements to benefit humanity.
The annual meeting concluded at 5 p.m., with Pen Club President Chen Mengsong expressing satisfaction with the event that embodied the spirit of friendship through culture and care for Taiwan, showing the continued influence of overseas Taiwanese in cultural, artistic, and technological fields.