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Statement by H.E. Ambassador Minute Alapati Taupo at the Opening Ceremony for the Exhibition “Destiny Intertwined—A Dialogue Between Vincent J.F. Huang and Tuvalu” at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, 30th December, 2013 Your Excellency, Dr. Shin-Chen Yeh, Deputy Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration, My Colleagues, Ambassadors to the Republic of China on Taiwan from the Republic of Guatemala and the Republic of Kiribati, Excellency, Ambassador Larry Tseng, Director-General of the Department of Protocol, MOFA, Excellency, Ambassador Ben Ho, Director-General of the Department of Asia and the Pacific, MOFA, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am truly delighted to attend this Opening Ceremony for the exhibition “Destiny Intertwined—A Dialogue Between Vincent J.F. Huang and Tuvalu” and would like to commend the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei for providing such an extraordinary venue for this exhibit, as well as Mr. Vincent J.F. Huang for his tireless work on behalf of Tuvalu and the climate change crisis my island nation and all Small Island Developing States around the world are currently facing. As many of you know, earlier this year, Tuvalu made the decision to participate in the 55th International Art Exhibition during the la Biennale in Venice, Italy. When my government made this choice, they hoped to take advantage of an internationally renowned artistic venue and an innovative medium to showcase for the world the threat that sea level rise poses to our low-lying island nation. At that time, my government also appointed Mr. Huang to the position of art representative for the Biennale because we could think of no artist who has better understood the dangers threatening our nation and the importance of raising awareness of these perils on a global scale. Mr. Huang’s work at the Biennale, as well as in the UNFCCC COP18 in Doha 2012, and in the recent UNFCCC COP19 in Warsaw, were all undeniable successes and suggested the crucial role of art in our mission to attract greater attention to the realities of climate change. Today, I am pleased to see that the message communicated by Mr. Huang in Venice, Doha, and Warsaw has impressed upon the people of Taiwan the significance of the environmental dangers threatening Tuvalu, one of its diplomatic partners in the South Pacific. This exhibit—a so-called sequel to Mr. Huang’s triumphant work in Venice and Doha in particular—represents not only a deepening and expansion of Mr. Huang’s relationship with my country, but also an opportunity for Taiwan’s citizens to more comprehensively understand Tuvalu and our efforts to escape an environmental disaster that threatens to engulf our country. This exhibit is also a clear demonstration of using the powerful arts and skills of Taiwan’s own people to deepen the cooperative and cordial collaboration between my country and Taiwan. This exhibit is indeed also a crucial stepping stone in demonstrating to the people of Taiwan that Tuvalu is not merely a small nation in the Pacific region and the world at large, but a country with a unique culture and people that should not be sacrificed to the rising seas surrounding our nation. Consequently, I would like to express the Embassy of Tuvalu’s endorsement for MOCA’s exhibition of Mr. Huang’s groundbreaking artistic project, and, on behalf of the Government of Tuvalu, I would like to extend my gratitude to MOCA’s directors, curators, and staff, as well as Mr. Huang and his team, for developing this superb exhibit. I hope that the Taiwanese public will take the time to appreciate this creative accomplishment and will support Tuvalu in its continuing efforts to mitigate climate change and its insidious effects on the livelihood of my nation’s people. I wish everyone all the best in this exhibition, and I also want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Happy New Year 2014! Thank you and Xiexie. .

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