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Home>Service> Awardees of Fervent Global Love of Lives Award> 17th Fervent Global Love of Lives Award 2014> Huang Ming-Ta—Hakka Skilled Hands
 [Changing the Fate‧Turning Life Around]

I always believe in the fact that one’s physical disability will not undermine one’s mental ability. The skills that I have can not only support myself, but also benefit more people like me.
—Huang Ming-Ta
 
The Hakka’s Perseverance ‧ Changing the Fate
Huang Ming-Ta is the founder of Ming-Ta Art Design Studio. When he was three, he suffered from a prolonged fever caused by polio and eventually lost his ability to walk. Back then, the concept of barrier-free environment had not developed. As a result, Ming-Ta literally crawled across his childhood, as he recalled. 
Despite all the discrimination and finger-pointing, Ming-Ta bore no grudge. With the Hakka people’s perseverance, he went through painful corrective surgery, studied ceramic art and sculpting on his own, and earned himself a livelihood.
Huang Ming-Ta also learned oil painting, watercolor painting, and the harmonica, under different masters. He can also play the guitar and the ocarina. 
 
Turning Life Around ‧Benefiting the Disadvantaged
Over the years, Huang Ming-Ta has voluntarily taught people like him and at the same time, brought music, art, and joy to the most disadvantaged children.
In spite of his limb paralysis, Ming-Ta successfully developed a pair of skilled hands. His story was made into the movie, Turning Life Around, which inspired many hearts. He is an example of turning disability into art creation, and turning art creation into love. He is indeed, the Hakka skilled hands. Among the 2239 candidates, Ming-Ta is one of the laureates of the 17th Fervent Global Love of Lives Medal in 2014 by the Chou, Ta-Kuan Foundation.    
 
A Hand-Propelled Tricycle with Love of Family
Mr. Huang Ming-Ta was born on the 10th of December, 1961, in a Hakka town in Hsinchu. Infected with Polio, Ming-Ta lost his ability to walk when he was three. His mother had carried him on his back, seeking all kinds of help from far and wide, but in vain. Ming-Ta recalled, he actually crawled across his childhood using his bare hands. Because of his disability, Ming-Ta once decided to quit school. Fortunately, with encouragement from his family, he successfully graduated from elementary school.      
 “Every time I went to the bathroom, I got strange looks.”
“In elementary school, I was often mocked by my peers. For my dignity, I fought against them. That’s why my teachers punished me a lot.”  
When it comes to the time in elementary school, Ming-Ta is grateful for his family’s support and tolerance. In order to help him go to school, Ming-Ta’s brother asked the owner of the bike shop to remodel a hand-propelled tricycle for Ming-Ta. At that time, a bike and remodeling would cost 3,300 New Taiwanese Dollars (110 USD). However, Ming-Ta’s brother’s salary was only 150.
 Huang Ming-Ta always says, “The hand-propelled tricycle, filled with love of family, led the way to hope and love.”
 
Knowing God‧Learning art on His Own
1975 was an important year for Huang Ming-Ta because he was brought to Cheng Hsin Rehabilitation Medical Center. Within no more than 8 months, he underwent 3 major corrective surgeries. Finally, Ming-Ta could get on his feet with a walking stick!
During his time there, Ming-Ta had a chance to know God and art. He was fascinated by art. He not only learned art on his own, but also grasped every opportunity to study with a master. After 8 months, Ming-Ta was able to play the harmonica and the guitar, and do watercolor painting, oil painting, and Chinese painting. These all became rich resources of his future career. Completing rehabilitation, Ming-Ta didn’t let go of any chance to further his study. He went to junior high school with perseverance and passion.   
After graduation, Ming-Ta got in his first choice, Arts & Crafts Department, Mingdao Vocational High School. Within only 3 years, Ming-Ta developed a strong base of knowledge about arts. Ming-Ta, with an independent personality, was determined to not only stand on his feet, but be financially independent.          
 
Turning Life Around‧Smiling Back at Discrimination 
Huang Ming-Ta went out into the world in 1982. However, he was not spared the ordeal of discrimination. He went to Maioli looking for a job, but was rejected because of his disability. He even became homeless for 2 months. Despite the difficulty, Ming-Ta didn’t lose faith. He learned to carve deity statues, and found jobs in factories producing decorative ceramics and sculpture prototype. Accumulating sufficient experience, Ming-Ta founded his own studio in 1989.
Developing sculpture prototype, Ming-Ta always did his best for his clients. With a stable income, Ming-Ta was able to make a living and do what he likes at the same time. On one occasion, he was looking for inspiration for his work. He then went to a park in Miaoli studying the grain of old trees for more than two hours. People around him thought he was insane. However, by doing so, he successfully developed ceramics with wood grain. 
Huang Ming-Ta’s motto is one’s physical disability will not undermine one’s mental ability. His disability motivated him to help those who are in need. He actively participated in activities helping the disadvantaged. He also won numerous awards in ceramics and art contests. 
Huang Ming-Ta was the winner of the Taiwan Ten Outstanding Disabled Persons in 1995, Golden Eagle Award in 1998, and Ten Model Technicians in 1999. He was commended by the president for three times.  
Huang Ming-Ta’s story was made into the movie, Turning Life Around, in which he encouraged those who are in dark times that where there is a will, there is a way.  
 
God has a purpose for every person
1988: Production designer of the movie, the Dull-Ice Flower
1989: Founded his own art design studio (artistic portrait, action figure, and personalized craft)
1991: Winner of the 5th disabled persons model; ceramics
1994:  Solo exhibition in Taichung. Items: sculptures, ceramics, oil painting, watercolor. 
1995: Winner of the 2nd National Ten Outstanding Persons; Art category; commended by President Lee.
1997: Winner of the 3rd National Disabled Persons Golden Eagle Award; commended by President Lee.
1999: Winner of the 5th National Ten Model Technicians; commended by President Lee..
2002: First place of the ceramics category of the 7th National Skills Contest for Disabled Persons. 
2005-2006: Winner of the National Excellent Art Creation Award  
2007: Winner of the first National Art Craft Award for Disabled Persons 
2009: Outstanding Performance Award, International Tea Pots Exhibition in Hong Kong
2009: 6th Place of the 5th National Dance Sport Competition  

★Current job: Head of Ming-Ta Art Design Studio and Hu Lu Doon DIY Workshop. Services: design & production of action figure, sculpting class, ceramics class, guitar class, ocarina class, stone painting class, jelly candle class, clay class, hand-made soap class, hand-dyed cloth class.
★Speech on life education (musical instrument performance & personal experience sharing)