Last week, Taiwan’s Pingtung District Court sentenced Sakuliu Pavavaljung, a Paiwan artist, to four and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a female fan in 2021. According to ArtAsiaPacific, the court found Pavavaljung guilty of “violating the victim’s sexual autonomy and inflicting severe psychological trauma,” a verdict that followed a nearly four-year investigation. Pavavaljung can still appeal the decision.
Pavavaljung is known for his contributions to Taiwan’s art scene and his anticipated breakout on the global stage. He faced significant professional fallout after the allegations in 2021. He denied the claims, but the controversy led to his removal from high-profile cultural events, including the 2022 edition of Documenta and that year’s Taiwan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
The case originated on February 9, 2021, when Pavavaljung allegedly invited a young female fan to his home in Pingtung County, where prosecutors said the assault occurred. The court’s decision emphasized Pavavaljung’s “lack of self-control” and the mental harm he caused to the victim.
Some of the ensuing allegations went back years. A female engineer accused Pavavaljung of attempted rape in 2006. The artist Kuo Yu-ping alleged on social media that a Paiwan artist—now believed to be Pavavaljung—had raped a teenage girl. Prosecutors investigated the claims, but initially found insufficient grounds for legal action.
