Art Olympics

Prepared by Peter Lichang Kuo

(Chinese)

Advance the Art Olympics' name,

Let culture shine with golden flame.

A platform born to spark new lives,

Nurture talent to soar art on wings.

E-commerce joins in grand display,

Olympic fame spreads far away.

Tradition and tech, a perfect blend,

Unite the world, let dreams ascend.

Fig 1: Logo of “Art Olympics”

The “Art Olympics” (Art-O) is a sub-project of the “Rich Taiwan Plan.” I, Li-Chang Kuo (aka Peter Kuo), successfully developed the “Contactless TranSmart Chip Card” in the 1990s. This innovative card, with its chip and antenna embedded inside, has a blank surface. At the time, it was estimated that approximately 1.7 billion TranSmart cards could be issued. The plan envisioned allocating space for an artist to create on every one million cards. With each card gives back $1, which would generate $1 million in revenue for one artist, supporting 1,700 artists in total. This initiative aimed to bring Taiwan’s art and culture onto the global stage, ultimately establishing a "Nobel Prize" for the art world.

Fig 2: Generating the TranSmart Card

My simple vision is as below:

1) To build the world's largest “Art Incubation Platform,” giving many artists the opportunities to be seen globally.

2) To enable “Contactless Digital Payments,” transforming art from mere appreciation into a tradable asset.

3) To create a “Win-Win Scenario for Culture and Economy,” making art not just a personal passion but a long-term investment and legacy.

4) To establish a “Social Responsibility Investment (SRI) Fund,” similar to the Nobel Prize, allowing artists to focus on creation without financial worries.

The Story Behind the Vision

It all goes back to my wife, Linda Din, who observed Taiwan’s failed industrial transformation between 1980 and 1985. At that time, foreign businesses were withdrawing, unemployment surged, and many jobless individuals turned to driving taxis—only to become targets of robberies. In 1986, she boldly said, “I want to invent a ‘cashless system’ where taxis can operate and earn money without carrying cash.”

True to her vision, 11 years later, she presented her breakthrough at APEC 1997 in Vancouver, sparking widespread discussion. Representatives from various economies encouraged her to apply for an "Invention Patent"—leading to her innovation being adopted by numerous multinational corporations (MNCs), improving their business operations and exponentially expanding our intellectual property (IP) portfolio.

When Linda Din was invited as a speaker at APEC 1998, she secured the E-Commerce Bill based on her invention, the "TES" (The eStore System), helped establish the e-commerce industry, launching the digital platform economy and creating millions of new jobs. It enabled small businesses and entrepreneurs to “work at home for earning world money.”

One of the key transaction tools from this invention, the "Cashless System," reached an annual transaction volume of USD 36 trillion during the COVID-19 pandemic—its IP value immeasurable. Today, IP has become a major business sector, spanning from high-tech industries to traditional businesses. Everywhere, you hear the term: "IP, IP."

* The story of the Art Olympics is also connected to the Dalai Lama.

Fig 3: Dalai Lama and Linda Din

On Youth Day in 1997, in preparation for Dalai Lama’s visit to Gongga Temple in Tainan for a consecration ceremony, we rented the Community Education Center and visited various artists— from painters to ceramicists— asking them to donate their works. The agreement was simple: “If the artworks were sold, the proceeds would be donated to the Dalai Lama; if not, they would be returned to the artists.”

This experience led me and several cultural and creative experts to explore how to leverage the vast profits generated by "TES" (The eStore System). Since our invention of the “Contactless Semiconductor” had already established Taiwan as a global leader in emerging technology, we recognized the need to strengthen our presence in arts and culture.

We wanted the world to discover Taiwan through music, photography, ceramics, painting, illustration, calligraphy, and street performances. Thus, the Art Olympics was launched with great momentum.

I have always believed that any good fortune is a gift from heaven. Therefore, I never let opportunities slip away, for fear of failing divine intent.

When Linda Din won the E-Commerce Bill at APEC 1998, I was in Silicon Valley, California. Representatives from Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs approached me, encouraging us to seize the moment and list on “NASDAQ,” securing ample funding to fully commercialize TES. Unfortunately, Linda was persuaded by officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to establish a factory in Wuqi— Taichung Export Processing Zone. This decision brought a series of disastrous consequences— ultimately pushing her to the brink of death— and the entire project was significantly delayed.

Fig 4: The Best Practice “Global Channel-TES” at APEC 2003

When Linda Din served as a speaker at APEC 2003, she proposed the "Global Channel-TES", which won the best practice of guiding 240 million people start their businesses. During the Q&A session, she stated, “TES is expected to generate USD 257.1 billion in output, with an estimated USD 10 trillion in derivative business opportunities.” This statement immediately set off a massive wave of interest in cashless transactions—Then digital trading platforms such as NFC/ NFT/ Bitcoin emerged.

In order to dilute the smell of commercial money, we have specially structured the "Art Olympics", a major international event similar to the Olympic Games model, to ensure the steady increase of international influence and market value. Those biennial events were planned as follows:

1. Art Olympics Grand Prize

1) Location: Rotates between New York (USA), London (UK), and Paris (France).

2) Global art competition across various categories (music, photography, painting, sculpture, street art, and digital art). Winners receive the title of “Art Olympic Artist”, along with prize money to support their long-term artistic careers.

2. Art Olympics Biennale

1) Location: Rotates among different host countries.

2) Exhibition of international artworks, integrated with an art trading platform that digitizes and monetizes winning pieces, helping artists generate sustainable income.

3. Art Olympics Global Summit

1) Location: Rotates among different host countries.

2) Forum on art market trends, inviting governments, foundations, and corporations to foster international business collaborations in the art sector.

4. Art Olympics Investors Summit

1) Location: Rotates among different host countries.

2) Summit on the art investment market, attracting investors, funds, and banks.

3) Establishment of an “Art IPO Platform” to integrate art and financial technology, enabling investment in the art market.

Additionally, we could seek endorsements from international organizations such as UNESCO and APEC’s cultural sector, to elevate the international certification of Art Olympics. We also planned the “Art Olympics Gold Medal Artist Award,” granting winners global influence and investment opportunities.

If everything had followed its intended path, we would have generated significant revenue to establish a "SRI Fund," ensuring the full realization of the Art Olympics initiative. However, whenever righteous intentions rise, so do opposing forces— leading to a battle between good and evil. In reality, we suffered relentless cartel-driven corruption and attacks, leaving us devastated, almost wiped out— essentially a failure.

Yet, our unwavering faith helped us overcome these immense challenges. During this period, our inventions were adopted by many globally renowned corporations, improving their business models and significantly expanding our intellectual property (IP) portfolio. Recently, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, during his time as a Senator, co-sponsored the “Credit Card Competition Act” (CCCA). Additionally, Senator Josh Hawley recently held a public hearing on VISA and MasterCard’s duopoly, opening new avenues for monetizing our IP.

Reviving the Vision of the Art Olympics

During the Lunar New Year, some artist friends brought up our inventions— the e-commerce industry and digital platform economy. It felt as if a long-buried gem had been wiped clean, revealing a glimpse of its brilliance. This conversation reignited our memories of the Art Olympics, a project once envisioned as an extension of national strength.

Today, digital transactions have become part of daily life, especially in New York, a city I know well. If the Art Olympics Platform is successfully implemented, it will benefit far more than just 1,700 artists. Therefore, we have redefined its mission as follows:

1. Core Principles

1) Integrating art and technology to connect Taiwan’s culture with the global market, reducing over-reliance on the traditional semiconductor industry.

2) Providing an incubation platform for artists, helping independent creators gain exposure and income.

3) Driving innovation in "Contactless Digital Trade Technology," enabling the digitization of the art market and fostering a win-win for culture and economy.

4) Establishing a "Social Responsibility Investment (SRI) Fund," modeled after the "Nobel Prize," to support long-term artistic development and impact.

2. Key Differentiators

1) The Art Olympics is a non-profit, service-oriented initiative, dedicated to securing a brighter future for future generations.

2) Advancing "TranSmart Chip" technology to provide artists with digital asset trading opportunities, enabling them to monetize their work and sustain their creative pursuits.

3) Integrating the "TES" (The eStore System) with art exhibitions, creating a globalized art trading platform.

4) Increasing the “IP” (intellectual property) value of artworks through licensing, auctions, and digital transactions.

3. Specific Actions

1) Hosting an international IP auction, starting with a USD 100 million baseline, to establish the SRI Fund.

2) Launching an IPO in the global capital market, securing sufficient funding to develop Art Olympics into the leading platform for global art trade and cultural technology.

A Turning Point for Art and Innovation in 2025

The year 2025 marks a turning point—an opportunity for us to take on the role of Idealists, using art to change the world, or to act as Investors, driving the application of technology and intellectual property to create a new value chain. By leveraging our accumulated technological achievements, we can reshape the art ecosystem, ushering in a new cultural era where artists’ dreams illuminate the world. Standing at the intersection of art and technology, we can foster cross-disciplinary integration, leading a modern Renaissance.

The Art Olympics will become a profound cultural foundation

Supporting the Art Olympics Platform is not merely a financial investment—it is an opportunity for every participant to witness the transformation of the future art and cultural landscape. This groundbreaking platform bridges multiple disciplines, expanding the horizons of art, empowering both emerging and classical artists to break free from traditional constraints and achieve their dreams while generating genuine social value. As the age of artificial intelligence unfolds, we can still feel the warmth of human creativity through art and culture. This is a mission-driven, passion-filled innovation project— one that will revolutionize the art ecosystem while preserving a beautiful tomorrow for generations to come.

Peter Lichang Kuo, the author created Taiwan's Precision Industry in his early years. Peter was a representative of the APEC CEO Summit and an expert in the third sector. He advocated "anti-corruption (AC)/cashless/e-commerce (E-Com)/ICT/IPR/IIA-TES / Micro-Business (MB)…and etc." to win the international bills and regulations.