Artists celebrate Taiwan's diversity in Grammy-nominated album packaging

Los Angeles, Jan. 31 (CNA) Taiwan's cultural diversity is reflected in the works of local artists whose album packaging designs have earned Grammy nominations, according to the artists themselves.

Lee Pei-tzu (李珮慈), the art director behind experimental band iWhooiWhoo's album "Pregnancy, Breakdown, And Disease," explained that her work conveys a uniquely Taiwanese theme of "sickness" that is rarely seen in Western art.

The album's music also showcases Taiwan's diverse linguistic heritage -- including Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, and various indigenous languages -- according to the band's singer, Lai Yu-chiao (賴予喬).

Lee's design, resembling a gift box that unfolds layer by layer to symbolize a gradual journey toward healing, was nominated in the Best Recording Package category in the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. Winners will be announced on Sunday (U.S. Time) in Los Angeles.

If given the opportunity to take the stage and accept the award, Lee said she would express thanks for Taiwan's diverse culture, which has "nurtured" her work.

Also nominated in the same category was Andrew Wong (黃家賢), who, along with Julie Yeh (葉昶利), designed the album packaging for "Jug Band Millionaire" by The Muddy Basin Ramblers.

Their design blends Taiwanese elements with the concept of Western sheet music.

The band's members are British and American nationals living in Taiwan, who Wong said represent Taiwan's diverse community.

"They come from different countries, but in the end, they have all chosen to live in Taiwan," Wong said.

In recent years, Taiwanese artists have achieved recognition in the Best Recording Package category at the Grammy Awards.

Li Jheng-han (李政瀚) and Yu Wei (于薇) were the first Taiwanese to win the category in 2022 for "Pakelang," an album by The Chairman Band and 2nd Generation Falangao Singing Group.

In 2023, Taiwanese artists Xiao Qing-yang (蕭青陽) and Hsiao Chun-tien (蕭君恬) nabbed the same award for the album "Beginningless Beginning," produced by the Tamsui-Kavalan Chinese Orchestra for the short film Tamsui-Kavalan Trails Trilogy (淡蘭古道三部曲).