Island Sunflower reflections
Venue: QCC Art Gallery/CUNY, Queens
Exhibition dates: November 8th 2024-February 28th, 2025
Curators: Luchia Meihua Lee, TAAC, Faustino Quintanilla, QCC Art Gallery
Participating artists:
Pin-Hsin Chu
Wen-Jen Deng
Ching-Hsiang Hu of Peppercorns Interactive Media Art
Chia-Hsuan Kuo
Ming-Jer Kuo
Tsung-Jung Liu
Carle Shi
Kacey Wong
Island Sunrise Team
Subjects
● POLITICAL: Tsung-Rong Liu, Island Sunrise team, Ming-Jer Kuo
● HISTORY: Wen-Jen Deng, Ching-Hsiang Hu,
● HOME: Pin-Hsin Chu, Chia-Hsuan Kuo
● REFLECTIONS: Carle Shi, Kacey Wong
Curatorial concept
In March 2014, young people led Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement which in time completely reversed the course of Taiwan’s foreign and domestic policy. On the 10th anniversary of the movement, we point out that social and political change is won through the brave spirit and effort of the movement leaders and the people - not awarded as a lucky accident. The Sunflower Movement’s tenth anniversary was on March 18, 2024.
In the article, "Spring passes and autumn passes, but don't forget the sunflowers," from the exhibition catalog marking the 10th Anniversary of the Sunflower Movement, Patrick Huang, expresses gratitude. He writes, "Fortunately, the young people of the Sunflower awakened the sleeping god of spring. Their fervor to shape destiny and save the country swept across Taiwan.”
The Sunflower Movement successfully blocked the proposed legislation easing trade with China, leading many of its participants to enter formal political life and thereby rejuvenating Taiwan's political culture. Artists played a pivotal role in the struggle, not merely as observers but actively on the front lines. The Island Sunrise Team, employing paint brushes, cameras, and video recorders, documented the events. The exhibition showcases visual and written records from 2014, and its reflections.
In one reflection, the Sunflower Movement directly inspired Hong Kong’s Umbrella movement and its followers, although they failed partly or in whole, while leaving strong images of what might have been. Hong Kong artist Kacey Wong, exiled to Taiwan, continues to express the democratic message and take actions. Ming-Jer Kuo points out that nearly 4700 times in the last 12 months has China violated Taiwan’s air space. Air raids and threats to Taiwan continue today. Looking back to Taiwan’s history, 400 years ago Taiwan shared a history with New York - both were colonized by the Dutch in 1624, which was followed by more colonization, which is commented on in “Between Mountains and Seas” - a new media installation by the Peppercorns Interactive Media Art Team team. Wen-Jen Deng looks at the fate of indigenous tribes in her innovative fiber art piece.
The world struggles not only in war, but in nature, and many people reflect on their lost home, or move to a new land, looking for a new residence. We are like the girl drinking coffee and watching the world, reflecting calmly on all that has changed.
PAST EVENTS
Saturday October 26-🎃 Workshop/Parade, Cello concert, Exhibition Tour and Pumpkin point 🎃
at TAAC House 7b, Nolan Park, Governors Island, NYC
More information and images： https://conta.cc/4gZTCoc
Saturday October 26, 11am to 5pm celebrate the new artworks on view at TAAC house 7b, Nolan Park, Governors Island.
12pm exhibition tour
1-3pm: Parade On Your Rain, Workshop and parade;
3:30pm: cello performance
4pm reception (snacks and drinks will be served)
🎃Costumes are encouraged, with trick-or-treating on Governors Island at Nolan Park’s historic houses on October 26 and 27. 🎃more information]
https://conta.cc/4gZTCoc
SPECIAL SCREENING
STORIES FROM A COAL MINING TOWN – JINGTONG
BY Wei Jane Chir
聯絡人與電話：Mary 929-310-9451
或華僑文教中心：Tel: 718-886-7770 Ext. 105
地點：華僑文教中心133-32 41 Road Flushing, NY 11355
日期：2024.10.26 (Saturday) 14:00 -16:10
費用：免費報名參加（Free to sign up）
活動流程：2:00 PM– 2:30 PM / Check-In, Refreshments
放映會&茶會座談 與談人(Panelists): 柯奕廷 Bryan Ko & Gi Gi
主持人（Moderator）: 洪惠瑛Cathy Hung
2:30 PM – 3:10 PM / Film Screening
3:10 PM – 3:40 PM / Q&A with Director and Panelists
3:40 PM - 4:10PM /Networking Session and Event Close
RSVP: https://shorturl.at/67ZYa
請於2024年10月23日之前報名，
聯絡人與電話：Mary 929-310-9451
或華僑文教中心：Tel: 718-886-7770 Ext. 105
Wei Jane Chir’s latest documentary, Stories from a Coal Mining Town - Jingtong.
Completed in 2023 under the visionary direction of Wei Jane Chir, Stories of a Coal Mining Town – Jingtong is a powerful documentary that spans three years of production to chronicle the poignant tale of Jingtong – a once bustling coal mining town. Known as the “coal of Taiwan” during its heyday, Jingtong’s streets thrived with thousands passing through daily. But as coal mining gave way to new energy sources, the town faced abandonment, its population dwindling to just a hundred residents.
From 2019-2021, in the midst of a global pandemic, Chir ventured deep into the mountains of Pingxi District, New Taipei City, to capture the fading memories of the town’s last miners, photographers, urban planner, and locals who witnessed Jingtong’s prosperous past. Through their stories, the documentary brings to life a lost way of living, painting a vivid portrait of a community’s resilience in the face of change.
This film is the third episode in Chir’s celebrated Portraits of the Place series, exploring the rich histories of Taiwanese towns. Despite its 28-minutes runtime, its emotional depth and historical insight leave a lasting impression. Having spent four decades creating abroad – from Taipei to San Francisco, Berlin, and now New York – Chir infuses her work with personal reflections on nature, nostalgia, and the passage of time.
Over twenty years ago, Chir directed the highly acclaimed The Legend of Lily Yeh, which tells the inspiriting story of a Taiwanese artist who helped rebuild Germantown, Norther Philadelphia. That film earned her the prestigious Chris Award at the 2003 Columbus International Film & Animation Festival.
This event is part of a cultural series co-hosted by Hello Taiwan, TAAC, and Asian in New York, and is co-sponsored by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, R.O.C
Moderator, Cathy Hung: Ms. Cathy Hung is the Executive Director of the New York City Children’s Theater. Named by the “City and State: Arts and Culture Power 100” in October 2024, Mrs. Hung has over 25 years of executive experience in arts administration. She is also the author of “Performing Arts Administration,” a widely used college textbook in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. Ms. Hung holds an MA in Performing Arts Administration from New York University.
Panelist, Bryan Ke: Director, born in New York and raised in Taiwan, his works have been shortlisted for many domestic and foreign film festivals. He is good at depicting delicate emotions. His works include short films, documentaries, commercials and music videos. A photo album is currently under development.
Panelist, Gigi: A journalist, editor, and film critic who’s passionate in Asian cultural arts. She grew up in mainland China, then lived & studied in Taiwan & Hong Kong in her 20s. Today, Gigi lives in New York. She grows wherever life’s beautiful journeys take her.
Director, Wei Jane Chir (Nongshen) : Born in Taiwan, since 1993 lives and works in New York, She studied painting and printmaking at San Francisco State University and then went to Germany to study painting and obtained MFA from Berlin University of Art in 1992. She uses a wide range of media. Including oil painting, printmaking, ink painting, and egg-tempera, documentary film. She has making art for over three decades.
《煤鄉故事-菁桐篇》 放映會暨座談會
10月26 日（星期六）紐約法拉盛華僑文教中心舉辦藝術家池農深最新紀錄片《煤鄉故事-菁桐篇》放映會。此活動是由Hello Taiwan , TAAC, Asian in New York共同主辦，僑委會協辦的系列藝文活動。《煤鄉故事-菁桐篇》是2023年拍攝完成的紀錄片，導演池農深(Wei Jane Chir)前前後後共耗時三年時間完成。菁桐曾是黑鄉小鎮，就像所有後工業的國家煤礦被新的能源取代後，礦區裡的城鎮遭受被廢棄的命運，而平溪尤其是菁桐這個當年有「台灣沒」代稱的小鎮，最繁榮時每天數千人進出，礦業凋零後小鎮人口只剩下百人。
2019至2021疫情期間，池農深深入新北縣平溪山裡，尋訪碩果僅存的老礦工、影像紀錄者、外來的城鄉規劃師，與目睹當年繁榮極盛時在地人，因著記憶重新找回昔日的生活樣貌，復興家園。《煤鄉故事-菁桐篇》是池農深拍攝歷史小鎮【地方臉譜】系列的第三部紀錄片。這是紀錄台灣煤礦小鎮興衰也是紀錄台灣人文景觀的一部28分鐘短片。片長雖短但感染力強。從台北、舊金山、柏林到紐約，在異鄉遊學創作40年，本片也是導演個人對自然與山林的記憶與鄉愁.
🎉🎉🎉🌻 Join us Saturday September 21, 2pm the celebration of new artworks present at TAAC house 7b, Nolan Park, Governors Island. [open hour: 11am to 5pm.]
2pm: performance "Traces" perform by Bipasha Hayat. Artist will make marks on the stone as a visual representation of the marks created by humanity throughout time. The chiseling symbolizes the permanence of human marks and displays how they cannot be erased once marks are made through actions and words.
"Spatiotemporal Invaders" A special multi-channel projection by Jeremiah Teipen
"Spatiotemporal Invaders" As a metaphor for our relationship to complex systems, biological or digital, this piece presents an immersive space between the physical and virtual, where pseudo-biological entities feed on information in crystalized forms, akin to crystal balls that allow one to see through time and space, only these crystallized forms are fractured, multifaceted digital media streams. The combination of these elements creates a game-like environment and illustrates communications beyond our consciousness.
Island Sunrise programs at House 7b, Nolan Park
September 20 to November 3, 2024
INDOOR EXHIBITION
Special Projects:
“Pagganck 1624-2024”, created by Wen-Jen Deng, an embroidery indigo innovative fiber art piece, which depicts the Governors Island landscape and history.
“Kuchapongone 1300-1980-2009”, created by Wen-Jen Deng, Indigo, Kuletu dyeing, burlap bag, ramie, linen, cotton thread, and cross stitch embroidery are combined by the artist to integrate history, myths, legends, and ethnic migration paths into tapestry and map art
A hall way site-specific installation by artist Ming-Jer Kuo
Room one:
“Corner “by Ching-Yi Chuang & Jun-Kai Yang, an animation, video mapping merge with the drawing and sculpture that reflects the land spirit guardians in Taiwan and Governors Island.
A Home Full of Stories series, by Pin-Hsin Chiu, a group of ceramics and prints with intricate dynamics between children and adults.
“Fade”, by Gracy Wen, a mixed media set about missing hometown coral under the water.
“Kawaii Boba Butterflies”, Site-Specific Installation and interactive performance by Secret Garden filled with Kawaii Pet art group/Tzu-an Ko +Yin-Chen Chen
Yin-Chen Chen, “The Black Earth,” a series of seven works, 2024, ink on paper, digital printmaking.
“Tomorrow” series by Gao Yuan, a three-dimensional photographic essay about time.
Room two:
“Classic Century” by artist Carle Shi, Dual large Oil on Canvas paintings. A robot and human nature with the environment that reveals a controversy and harmony
“Spatiotemporal Invaders” by artist Jeremiah Teipen, Multichannel site-specific video projection. As a metaphor for our relationship to complex systems, biological or digital.
Room Three:
“Rebirth” by artist Shih Pao Lin, a 7-foot high sculpture from Ukraine, made of recycled materials to express the horrors of war and the humanity that may be found there
“Home“ A 60-inch ceramic sculpture, and series of “Longing for Home” ceramic sculpture.by Chia-Hsuan Kuo
Back Room: Selection pieces from May Sunflower Movement exhibition, Gordian Knots by Chin-Chih Yang
2ND FLOOR
Making of Eve Clone Documentation I - AR series, Hand and head by artist Pey-Chwen Lin, adapting DaVinci’s Vitruvian man cloning to become Eva Clone, to reveal the new tech that brings humanity to a new civilization and at the same to the end.
“Eve Clone Wannsee” and Eve Clone Babel I by Pey-Chwen Lin. The artist picked 28 world celebrities and merged the faces with the image of Eve Clone. They are talking in different languages at the same time, and thus are unintelligible.
Eun Young Choi, Bonds, Dihedrals, Torsions, 2024. Hand cut polyester film, nails, and pins. Site-specific installation
“I love you more, acrylic on canvas painting by Huey-Min Chuang
“Fearless Girl, the Birth of Hope” by Huey-Min Chuang, art that can connect, inspire, bridge common grounds and provide a vessel of possibilities when there are differences.
Atu Ram, various paintings
Open Studios:
Studio one: Chueh Chiao-Han, paintings
Studio 3 & 4: artists Huey-Min Chuang, Pin-Hsin Chu, Gracy Wen, John Chia-Hsuan Kuo, Atu Ram
OUTDOOR ART PIECES
"Between Mountains and Seas", by Chin-Hsiang Hu / Peppercorns Interactive New Media Art team. A large new media work with sound and light to connect NYC’s and Taiwan’s history
"Ching-Ke Lin Bamboo”, by Ching-Ke Lin, a porch bamboo cloud sunflower flower installation, extending to house 8a.
“123 Pollution Solution” by Chin-Chih Yang installation piece from Governors Island recycled materials. to symbolize Jade Mountain, the tallest mountain in Taiwan.
"Care for Water" by Atu Ram, a plantation sculptural installation to commemorate the composer Benardo Palombo, founder of El Taller Latino Americano
Gordian Knots, by ChinChih Yang
Upcoming Performance and workshop
September 21 (Saturday) 2pm Traces performance led by Bipasha Hayat
October 27 (Saturday)
1-2:30pm Workshop (7b)
2:30-2:45pm rain parade (Nolan Park)
“Parade on Your Rain” Workshop and performance led by Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky
NOTES:
“Traces” performance, Bipasha Hayat makes marks on the stone as a visual representation of the marks created by humanity throughout time.
“Parade on your Rain"“: Workshop and performance, led by Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, with a reinvented vision of the relationship between rain and parades. A free, all ages drop-in workshop from 1:00 to 2:20 on August 18 invites participants to experiment with and make instruments mimicking the sound of a rain storm. Attendees are welcome to return at 2:20 to perform a makeshift rain parade traveling around Nolan Park from 2:30 to 2:45.
Past event
Saturday August 24, 2024 performance:
2-3pm “Kawaii Boba Butterflies” Installation and interactive performance by Secret Garden filled with Kawaii Pet art group/Tzu-an Ko+Yin-Chen Chen
3-4pm “Membrane” : interactive dance by Yung-Chieh Kao Membrane performance route: The performer is on the turf outside and uses performance to guide the audience into house 7b. After audience interaction, she ends the performance by guiding the audience to the turf area outside.
4-5pm “Parade on your Rain": Workshop and performance, led by Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, with a reinvented vision of the relationship between rain and parades. A free, all ages drop-in workshop from 1:00 to 2:20 on August 18 invites participants to experiment with and make instruments mimicking the sound of a rain storm. Attendees are welcome to return at 2:20 to perform a makeshift rain parade traveling around Nolan Park from 2:30 to 2:45.
🎉🎉🎉Governors Island House Fest- Friday, Saturday and Sunday August 16, 17, and 18, 2024
The TAAC House 7b program for August, 2024, Nolan Park, Governors Island
OUTDOOR ART PIECES:
"Between Mountains and Seas", by Chin-Hsiang HU / Peppercorns Interactive new Media Art team . A large new media works with sound and light to connect NYC and Taiwan history
"Ching-Ke Lin Bamboo”, by Ching-Ke Lin, a porch bamboo Sunflower flower installation
“123 Pollution Solution” by Chin-Chih Yang installation piece from Governors Island recycle materials. to symbolize the highest Jade mountain of Taiwan.
"Where and What we Growing up" a plantation sculptural installation to commemorate the composer and founder, Benado, of El taller Latino Americano
“From Here to There", by Kevork Mourad
“ISLAND SUNRISE” - INDOOR EXHIBITION
Special Project:
“Pagganck 1624-2024”, created by Wen-Jen Deng, An embroidery indigo innovative fiber art piece, which depict the Governors Island landscape and history.
“Kuchapongone 1300-1980-2009”, Indigo,Kuletu dyeing, burlap bag, ramie, linen, cotton thread, Cross stitch, embroidery. She enriches her creations by integrating the history, myths, legends, and ethnic migration paths into tapestry and map art.
Room one:
“Corner“by Ching-Yi Chuang & Jun-Kai Yang, a animation, video mapping merge with the drawing and sculpture that reflect the land guardian in Taiwan and Governors Island.
A Home Full of Stories series, by PIN-HSIN Chiu, group of ceramic and prints which intricate dynamics between children and adults from artist emotions.
Fearless Girl, the Birth of Hope by Huey-Min Chuang
“Even Clone”- documentation AR series, by artist Pey-Chwen Lin, from DaVincci Vitruvian man cloning to become Eva Clone, in a way to reveal the new tech that bring human to a new civilization at the same to the end.
Room two:
“Rebirth” by artist Shih Pao Lin, a 7 feet high sculpture from Ukraine recycle materials to express the War and humanities
“Classic Century” by artist Carle Shi, Dual large oil on Canvas painting. A robot and human nature with the environment that reveal a controversial and harmony
“From Here to There”, by artist Kevork Mourad, Syrian/Romanian artist. A large scale of the painting which release the hardship of relocation for immigrant.
“Fade”, by Gracy Wen, a mixed media set release the missing of hometown coral under the water.
Room 3:
“Kawaii Boba Butterflies”, Site-Specific Installation and interactive performance by Secret Garden filled with Kawaii Pet art group/Tzu-an Ko +Yin-Chen Chen
Open Studios: Eun Young Choi, Huey-Min Chuang, Chueh Chiao-Han
PERFORMANCE:
Ø “Membrane” : interactive dance by Yung-Chieh Kao Membrane performance route: The performer is on the turf outside and uses performance to guide the audience into house 7b. After audience interaction, she ends the performance by guiding the audience to the turf area outside.
Ø “123 Pollution Solution”: workshop led by Chin-Chih Yang using recycled materials.
Ø “Parade on your Rain": Workshop and performance, led by Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, with a reinvented vision of the relationship between rain and parades. A free, all ages drop-in workshop from 1:00 to 2:20 on August 18 invites participants to experiment with and make instruments mimicking the sound of a rain storm. Attendees are welcome to return at 2:20 to perform a makeshift rain parade traveling around Nolan Park from 2:30 to 2:45.
Ø Concert by Rad Jet: 8-piece band
Ø “Moving Memorials”: Performance by María Verónica San Martín, Moving Memorials composed of twelve artist books dedicated to investigating the memories of the Chilean dictatorship. The performance includes a conversation and Q&A, and the audience is invited to walk around the artworks, look at them closely, and touch them carefully.
Ø “Kawaii Boba Butterflies” Installation and interactive performance by Secret Garden filled with Kawaii Pet art group/Tzu-an Ko +Yin-Chen Chen
Current exhibit: Saturday July 20-August 11, 2024 Exhibitions and projects
More information: https://conta.cc/3yibWax
Pey-Chwen Lin 林珮淳: Eve Clone Babel I
Lin Pey-Chwen uses 3D animation to create a hybrid female figure combining human, cocoon, and beast elements, critiquing humanity's attempt to imitate God by using technology to clone artificial life. She refers to this species as Eve Clone. In addition to having an enticing face and ideal body proportions, her forehead and right hand are inscribed with the number "666." In the Bible's Book of Revelation (13:16-18), "666" is the beast's mark that controls humanity, symbolizing how technological clones created by humanity are dangerous products that ultimately control them.
Pey-Chwen Lin: Eve Clone Augmented Reality 林珮淳:夏娃再製擴增實境
Eve Clone is a recurring figure in Lin’s art and an unholy product of 3-D computer animation and associated digital technology. The text below her is a reference to the statue dreamt by king Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel – a statue that symbolizes human hubris challenging God. She superimposed the development of Eve Clone on the drawings of Vitruvian Man by Leonardo Da Vinci, in which he delineates his idea of the ideal human physique. For the video, Lin used a virtual camera to show from various angles how Eve Clone has been shaped and to emphasize her digital nature. The wire frame and skeleton, VU texture mapping, and pattern engraving not only serve as documentation but also underline how Eve Clone is a digital product of human desire. She elaborates on this theme in a series of two-dimensional works documenting the formation of Eve Clone. These are photographs to which she has added paint and then enhanced by AR techniques. All these works reflect on the relationship between humans and their technology.
Ching-Hsiang Hu 胡縉祥, Peppercorns New Media 黑川互動新媒体
Between Mountains and Seas
Since the Dutch invaded Taiwan in 1624, Tainan city has experienced 400 years of changes and development. For centuries, this historical and cultural ancient capital has been shaped by people from different cultures and backgrounds. The artwork 'Between Mountains and Seas' symbolizes the interwoven passage of time in the prolonged stream of Tainan history as though the time river carves coastlines and mountain ranges in sandstone. It witnesses the accumulation and alteration of Tainan. The artwork simulates the glittering scenery of mountains and waters, using 81 2-meter-high LED tubes to set up a circle installation. With the combination of light visual art and music, it simulates the scenery of mountains and seas, presenting the harvest time of the land. Visitors are able to immerse themselves in this space to experience diverse environmental textures between the mountains and the sea in Tainan. The “Between Mountains and Seas” installation presents a chapter in the history of Taiwan, in particular the representation of said history via the change in the waterscape of Taiwan over time. These changes were initiated by the Dutch who in 1624 colonized the country and made Tainan their trade entrepot in Taiwan. Also in 1624, the Dutch founded a colony they called New Amsterdam, so the link between two islands distant from each other was time and a European power at the height of its power.
Yu-Jei Yen 閻昱潔 Sitting on the Unsettling
Cotton, Linen, Acrylic yarn, Wires, 2023. Dimension variable
Sitting on the Unsettling is a hand-made crocheted sculpture collection. It reflects the polarization and global political tension dividing people and sacrificing peace. The project aims to reflect the process of transcending division and turning it into acceptance. Each three-dimensional textile represents a stage of collective consciousness. The Sitting on the Unsettling series has five works with different themes, among which we only show Conflict and Grief:
History/ Memory is the lesson that is tucked in the past.
Conflict/ Division is the community rage we have been exposed to.
Distort/ Debris is the dreadful result of the era of polarization.
Feminism/ Fluid is the light breeze from the field.
Grief/ Acceptance is the reconciliation we desperately seek.
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing, / There is a field. I’ll meet you there.”-Sufi Philosopher Rumi.
Ching-Yi Chuang 莊慶怡 and Chun-Kai Yang楊鈞凱-A Gigantic Taiwan Mobile Platform: Towards the Path of Freedom
Needle pen sketch on paper, 43 x 87 inches,
animation mapping projection, digital sound effect, 1.27 min video looped, 2024
A map of Taiwan becomes a mechanized object that includes skyscrapers and factories – especially microchip plants. Then motion transforms a two-dimensional paper sketch into a kinetic image. The concept of transforming Taiwan into a large, movable platform challenges the current geopolitical situation. By employing speculative design logic, the project explores the foundations and potential impacts of setting Taiwan in motion. Through a combination of short animations and illustrations, interacting with the exhibition space, this concept is vividly presented to the audience.
Motivation for this artwork is the fact that many countries do not recognize Taiwan, despite the fact that Taiwan has existed separately from China for many centuries, and has been completely independent for the past 75 years. Following the trajectory of business interests or financial pressure, and the insistence of the People's Republic of China that a country may not recognize both China and Taiwan, many countries choose to recognize only China. However, Taiwan still maintains its own elections and government and its democracy presents by an existential challenge to the ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Communist Party responds by generating military tension and creating a threat to the peace of the entire word.
Past Event
Room 1: Huey-min Chuang "Cosmos Dreaming"
Huey-Min Chuang was born in Taiwan, lived in Argentina, educated in Germany, Spain, and the U.S.A. She currently works and resides in Brooklyn, NY. A self-taught artist, Chuang began to draw and paint at 48 years old at the height of the pandemic motivated by a desire to celebrate her mom’s tenth anniversary in the cosmic ether during the darkest days of NYC. When words no longer expressed what her soul and heart felt, she began to draw with a black marker. Her black and white ink drawings became a vessel of possibilities in confinement. Time and space vanished whenever she created. She wastransported into a brave new world.
The act of sharing these works with her family and friends became a ritual of comfort. She learned that “something” can be created out of nothing, and that everything can be deployed to create change. With that belief, she began to waltz into playful discovery with imagination and live her passion to share her creative works with the universe.
Chuang's artwork focuses on the theme of resilience. She seeks new ways of seeing by leveraging her intuition and sensation to convey psychological landscapes and emotional responses through forms, lines, cultural interpretations, imagery, and colors. She sheds preconceived ideas and allows serendipity to bring her gifts of spontaneity. They welcome her with alternative creative processes, imagination, and hues that bring forth a narrative of hope and infinite possibilities. She invites you to lean closer, walk into the picture, take a seat, feel the rain drops on your face, hold the breeze in your heart, breathe in, and then exhale.
Room 2: Kevork Mourad “From Here to There”
In the part of the world that most inspires Mourad’s work—the part of the world that was Mesopotamia—time has not dealt kindly with artifacts. He is the descendant of Armenian refugees to Syria, and both the Arabic and the Armenian cultures have a claim on him. Though his pieces are imaginary, they are highly informed by the crafts and art forms of his heritage—calligraphy, blacksmith work, ancient carvings—and through his work he seeks to contribute to the idea of preserving historic artifacts. As an artist, because of the wealth of his cultural inheritance, Mourad finds it a duty to cherish the insights of the cultures that spawned him, and therefore his artistic language is informed by the visual and auditory languages in which he was steeped.
Room 3: Home project by John Chia-Hsuan Kuo
The exhibition showcases ceramic sculptures Kuo created over the past 5 years, capturing images of both homeless and everyday people, and expressing their longing for home. The artist’s interest in this theme stems from his own experience of being away from Taiwan for four years, sharing a sense of displacement and longing. It is especially fitting to show this work in a room that still bears the marks of the family who once lived there, adding intimacy and the feeling of being in someone’s home. This setting provides a unique environment, emphasizing the personal and communal aspects of longing for home. The irony of showcasing these sculptures in an abandoned location adds depth. The showroom, situated between the kitchen, living room, and hallway, reflects the uncertain and transitional state of those depicted. It symbolizes a place of passage and change, much like the lives of those longing for home.
Special project: Taiwan Hsin Chu and NYC organized by Li-Hsiang Huang
Backroom: selected works that Reflect the 5 world peoples’ movements around 2014 - namely Taiwan's Sunflower Movement, Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement, the Arab Spring, the Chilean Winter and Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity
🎉🎉🎉 Saturday June 1, 2024 1-4 pm Workshop and lectures 🎉🎉
Session 1: 1:10pm：Introduction to the 7b exhibition "Peoples' Movements"
Reflect the 5 world peoples’ movements around 2014 - namely Taiwan's Sunflower Movement, Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement, the Arab Spring, the Chilean Winter and Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity.
Session 2: 1:20 - 2:50: Workshop and presentation
subject: The Power of Art for Peace and Social Impact co-organized by the Shield Art Foundation
A workshop led by artist Shih-Pao Lin for Painting for Peace action series. This workshop will be open to all - not just painters - and will encourage participants to express their thoughts.
A presentation by Wei-Hsuan Chen, She will discuss how she and tShih-Pao Lin use "One Painting One Prayer" to make a difference and create social impact.
From 2:30 to 2:50, Q & A & discussion
Session 3: Subject: Once upon a Time, Animals of Governors Island
From 3:00 to 4:00: There will be a talk by international expert Dr. Mona Lung whose PhD. is in Philosophy of Science and Technology, on the subject Animals of Governors Island
From 4:00 to 4:30, people will be free to mingle and discuss the talks and other topics that may arise.
(drinks and snacks will be served.)
People’s Movements: Sunflower 10th Year Anniversary Version II
人民的運動：太陽花十周年 (第二部分）
Opening reception: 2 – 5 pm May 18, 2024
Curator, artist talks and house tour: Noon to 2pm May 18
Concert: Cello by Shu-Wei Tseng 2pm
Performance: Maria Verónica San Martin 3pm
Installation Performance； Chin Chih Yang 11-3pm
Participating artists
v Taiwan Sunflower Movement
1. Enbion Micah Aan 洪延平
2. Island Sunrise Team 島嶼天光團隊
3. Liu Tsung Jung 劉宗榮
4. Hsin Yi Liu 劉欣怡
5. Chia H. Kuo 郭家瑄
6. Wen-Jen Deng 鄧文貞
7. WeiTa Chen Weita Chen 陳韋達
v Ukrainian Euromaidan revolution
8. Oleksii Koval
9. Shih-Pao Lin 林世寶
v Chilean Winter
10. María Verónica San Martín
v Arab Spring
11. Kevork Mourad
v Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement
12. Tracy Wong 王國才
Venue 1: Tenri Cultural Institute, NYC Exhibition Dates: May 3 to June 16, 2024
Venue 2: TAAC house 7b, Nolan Park, Governors Island, Exhibition Dates: May 15 to June 9, 2024
Chief Curator: Luchia Meihua Lee
Seminar organizer: Wei-Ting Chen
Advisory team: Patrick Huang, Thomas Chen, Ming Chiang, Patsy Chen, Kenneth Howell, Weiting Chen, I-Lun Shih
Curatorial concept
In March 2014, young people led Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement which in time completely reversed the course of Taiwan’s foreign and domestic policy. On the 10th anniversary of the movement, we organize a program and exhibition which points out that social and political change is won through the brave spirit and effort of the movement leaders and the people - not awarded as a lucky accident. This exhibition will involve approximately 12 artists celebrating peoples’ political movements – largely youth-led – that took place around the world circa 2014. We select 5 movements: the Sunflower Movement, the Arab Spring, the Chilean Winter, the Ukrainian Euromaidan movement, and Hong Kong’s umbrella movement – all of approximately the same era as Taiwan’s Sunflower movement – to which artists will respond.
First among them, of course, is Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement in which students and other youth occupied Taiwan’s legislative body in protest of the plan by ruling government (that of Ma Ying-Jeou) to strengthen trade ties with China. The Sunflower Movement was successful in blocking the proposed legislation, and led to many of its participants eventually entering formal political life and thus rejuvenating Taiwan’s political culture. It’s tenth anniversary will be on March 18, 2024.
Other movements to be celebrated will be Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement, which took place between 26 September and 15 December 2014 – so 2024 will also mark the 10th anniversary of this movement. Led by Hong Kong youth, this movement was sparked by China’s proposed changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system – changes that the movement unsuccessfully opposed and were later imposed unilaterally by the government in Beijing. However, this movement was resurrected on its fifth anniversary in 2019 to protest the bill enabling extradition to China – and trial there – of residents of Hong Kong. Beijing eventually imposed this bill on Hong Kong, further eroding the special status of Hong Kong in violation of the 50-year special administrative status of Hong Kong negotiated by the United Kingdom and China in 1997. However, this exhibition will glorify the spirit of public self-sacrifice exemplified in Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement, and in evidence in each of these popular movements.
Some element of the Arab Spring will be included in this exhibition. While that movement took place in several Arab countries – with varying degrees of success – in the early 2010’s. The Arab Spring started in Tunisia, and then spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain. In Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Tunisia, rulers were deposed. Protests took place across the Arab world, most particularly in Morocco, Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Sudan. All these were movements by youth in opposition to authoritarianism and in pursuit of democracy as well as a brighter economic future, and so fit the theme of this exhibition. While 2024 will be the 12th or 13th anniversary of this movement (depending on which country one looks at), it deserves to be included in this exhibition because of its aims. It is hoped to examine more carefully the Arab Spring as it took place in Tunisia (where it was successful).
Numerous political movements in South and Central America were youth-led protests. Perhaps one of the most notable was that in Chile in 2011 to 2013. Known as the Chilean Winter, it was a student-led protest against the poor for-profit educational system – especially the post-secondary educational system - extant in Chile at that time which tended to perpetuate Chilean class structure because the children of the very rich had adequate educational choices, but not the children of middle-class families. This system dated to the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, who was not more benign than General Chiang Kai-Shek in Taiwan. In both Taiwan and Chile, the transition to democracy took place peacefully – without a revolution – while political movements such as those discussed herewith fine-tuned that democracy.
The youth movements in Ukraine were known as the Euromaidan or Pomvrancheva revolution. The movement is named after Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kiev, one of the first sites of demonstration on 18 February 2014; the protestors at one point also attempted to occupy the legislative branch. Unlike with the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan, armed police stymied this move, killing, wounding or arresting numerous protestors. The achieved aim of the Euromaidan movement was to topple President Yanukovych whom the protestors considered too close to Russia. Yanukovych had negotiated an agreement for Ukraine to join the EU, then declined to do so in favor of closer ties with Russia – an echo of the closer ties with China advocated by Ma Ying-Jeou in Taiwan.
Ultimately, the success of the Euromaidan revolution, which was supported by speakers of Ukrainian and opposed by Ukrainian speakers of Russian, emboldened Russia to seize the Crimean Peninsula, a Russian-speaking area of Ukraine. A variety of artists from the region will make and display art commenting on the Euromaidan revolution in Ukraine.
This exhibition thus celebrates youth-led popular movements of approximately 10 years vintage and simultaneously highlights both the similarities and differences between them. Social and political change is never straightforward and compartmentalized, let alone complete – which is why we have chosen a variety of such movements.
Venue 1: Tenri Cultural Institute, NYC Exhibition Dates: May 3 to June 16, 2024
Participating artists
v Taiwan Sunflower Movement
1. Enbion Micah Aan洪延平 (Photography)
2. Island Sunrise Team島嶼天光團隊 (Portrait painting and video)
3. Liu Tsung Jung 劉宗榮 (Paintings and archives)
4. Hsin Yi Liu 劉欣怡 (Paintings)
5. Chia H. Kuo郭家瑄 (Sculpture)
v Ukrainian Euromaidan revolution
6. Oleksii Koval ()
7. Shih-Pao Lin, (one Prayer, one Painting drawings)
v Chilean Winter
8. María Verónica San Martín (woodcut print, artist book)
v Arab Spring
9. Kevork Mourad (boat sculpture + wall piece + video）
v Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement
10. Tracy Wong (prints, video, helmet, cocktail sculpture)
Seminar: Saturday March 30, 1-3:30pm
Topic: Reflecting on the 10th Anniversary of the Sunflower and Umbrella Movements: The Future of Hong Kong and Taiwan
Panelists:
Weiting Chen (陳為廷), Sunflower Movement frontline activist
June Lin (林倢), Sunflower Movement frontline activist
I-Lun Shih (施懿倫) , Sunflower Movement frontline activist
Sunny Cheung (張崑陽), Hong Kong political movements frontline activist
Curatorial concept brief translation【策展概念中文簡譯】
2014年3月，台灣年輕人領導的太陽花運動徹底扭轉了台灣的內外政策走向; 在運動十週年之際我們意欲規劃一次展覽活動也指出，社會和政治變革是透過運動領袖和人民的勇敢精神和努力贏得的，而不是作為一個幸運的意外而獲得的。本次展覽將有約12 位藝術家參與，慶祝2014 年左右在世界各地發生的人民政治運動（主要由青年主導）。我們選擇了5 個運動：向日葵運動、阿拉伯之春、智利之冬、烏克蘭親歐盟運動、香港的雨傘運動——與台灣的向日葵運動大致處於同一時代——藝術家將對此做出回應。
其中首先是台灣的太陽花運動，學生和其他年輕人佔領台灣立法院，抗議執政政府（馬英九）加強與中國貿易關係的計畫。太陽花運動成功阻止了擬議的立法，導致許多參與者最終進入正式政治生活，從而復興了台灣的政治文化，太陽花運動於2014年發生；其十週年將於2024年3月18日舉行。
其他值得紀念的運動還有 2014 年 9 月 26 日至 12 月 15 日期間發生的香港雨傘運動，因此 2024 年也將標誌著運動的 10 週年。 這場由香港年輕人領導的運動是由中國提議的香港選舉制度改革引發的——這項改革遭到了北京政府的反對，但未成功，後來又被北京政府單方面強加。 然而，這項運動在 2019 年五週年之際再次捲土重來，抗議允許將香港居民引渡到中國並在那裡接受審判的法案。 北京最終將這項法案強加於香港，進一步削弱了香港的特殊地位，違反了英國和中國在1997年談判達成的香港50年特別行政地位。然而，這次展覽將頌揚公眾的精神自我犧牲精神在台灣的太陽花運動中得到體現，並在每一次民眾運動中得到體現。
這次展覽將包含阿拉伯之春的一些元素。 儘管這項運動於 2010 年代初期在多個阿拉伯國家展開，並取得了不同程度的成功。 阿拉伯之春始於突尼斯，隨後蔓延到埃及、利比亞、葉門、敘利亞和巴林。 在埃及、利比亞、葉門和突尼西亞，統治者被廢黜。 阿拉伯世界各地都發生了抗議活動，尤其是在摩洛哥、伊拉克、阿爾及利亞、黎巴嫩、約旦、科威特、阿曼和蘇丹。 這些都是青年反對獨裁、追求民主和經濟未來的運動，也契合了本次展覽的主題。 雖然 2024 年將是這項運動的 12 或 13 週年（取決於哪個國家），但由於其目標，它值得被納入本次展覽。 人們希望更仔細地審視在突尼斯發生的阿拉伯之春（它在突尼斯取得了成功）。
南美洲和中美洲的許多政治運動都是由青年領導的抗議活動。 也許最引人注目的事件之一是2011 年至2013 年在智利發生的事件。被稱為“智利冬天”，這是由學生領導的抗議活動，反對當時智利現有的貧困營利性教育體系，尤其是高等教育體系。這往往會延續智利的階級結構，因為非常富有的孩子有足夠的教育選擇，但中產階級家庭的孩子卻沒有。 這個制度可以追溯到奧古斯托·皮諾切特將軍的獨裁統治，他並不比台灣的蔣介石將軍更仁慈。 在台灣和智利，向民主的過渡都是和平進行的——沒有發生革命——而諸如本文討論的政治運動則對民主進行了微調。
烏克蘭的青年運動被稱為親歐盟革命或 Pomvrancheva 革命。該運動以基輔的 Maidan Nezalezhnosti（獨立廣場）命名，該廣場是 2014 年 2 月 18 日首批示威地點之一； 抗議者也試圖佔領立法部門。 與台灣的太陽花運動不同，武警阻止了這項行動，殺死、打傷或逮捕了許多抗議者。 親歐盟運動的目的是推翻總統亞努科維奇，抗議者認為他與俄羅斯關係過於密切。 亞努科維奇曾就烏克蘭加入歐盟達成協議，但隨後拒絕這樣做，轉而支持與俄羅斯建立更密切的關係 — — 這與馬英九在台灣倡導的與中國建立更密切關係的呼應。
最終，歐洲獨立運動的成功得到了烏克蘭語使用者的支持，而烏克蘭語俄語使用者的反對，使俄羅斯更有底氣奪取了烏克蘭的俄語區克里米亞半島。 來自該地區的多位藝術家將創作並展示對烏克蘭親歐盟革命進行評論的藝術作品。
在這次紀念台灣向日葵運動十週年的展覽中，我們提醒世人我們所獲得的安穩、和平的生活不是靠運氣得來的，而是靠著運動領袖們人民的勇敢精神和努力換來的;時代的5個運動藝術家來回應。
FROM PEOPLE TO THE LAND
Opening reception: Saturday, December 9th, 2023 1-3pm
On view: From November 30, 2023 - March 28, 2024
Location: Anibal Aviles Playground: 111 W 108 Street, Manhattan (between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenue)
more information: https://tallerlatino.org/exhibitions/2023/11/11/land
Presented by:
El Taller Latino Americano and the Taiwanese American Arts Council
Co-Curators:
Luchia Meihua Lee, Executive Director, Taiwanese American Arts Council
j. maya luz, Director of Special Projects, El Taller Latino Americano
