Taiwanese experimental photographer and filmmaker Chang Chao-tang has died aged 81 on 2 April in Taipei.
Born in Taipei in 1943, Chang became interested in photography at a young age and started exploring the medium in high school at a photography club led by documentary photographer Cheng Shang-hsi. In 1960 he went to National Taiwan University to study civil engineering, where he was heavily influenced by modernist and existentialist art and literature, and started to acquire a more conceptual approach. During the 60s, Chang became active in the local arts circle, presenting his works in his first two-person solo along with Cheng, as well as other events in poetry and film.
In 1968, Chang began working as a photojournalist at China Television Company where he started to be involved in documentary and film production. His The Boat Burning Festival (1979) and Gu Cuo (The Old House; 1980) earned him Golden Bell Awards for best cinematography and editing, and a Golden Horse for best documentary and best cinematography respectively. He continued his photographic practice and research, publishing In Search of Photos Past in 1988 which surveys a history of 20th century photography in Taiwan.
In 2022 Chang received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival. Recently, he was awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award at the 14th Taiwan International Documentary Festival scheduled to run from 10–19 May 2024.
