TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwanese art exhibition opened at the Skovde Art Museum in Sweden on Thursday (Oct. 17), which reveals the intricacies of Taiwan’s culture.
Featuring the works of nine Taiwanese artists, “Nothing Happened here Today,” runs until March 16, 2025. The works utilize a wide range of mediums and themes to present the complex and varied nature of Taiwanese society, per CNA.
Skovde Art Museum curator Tomas Asplund Gustafsson explained the group exhibition and artist-in-residence program are outcomes of their February visit to Taiwan. In just under two weeks in Taipei, they met with many artists, attended cultural events, and visited art institutions. The goal was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Taiwanese art scene.
Curator of the Skovde Art Museum, Tomas Asplund Gustafsson, stated the group exhibition and Taiwanese artist-in-residence program were inspired by a visit to Taiwan in February.
Gustafsson was struck by the range of Taiwanese art, both in terms of themes and mediums. He expressed a desire to continue working with Taiwanese artists, seeing this exhibition as just the beginning of a partnership.
Artist Chiang Pin-hsuan (江品萱), who lost her normal vision to keratoconus at the age of 18, drew inspiration from her experience for her artworks. Chiang added this was her first time exhibiting her work in such a formal setting, as she had previously focused on workshops.
Keratoconus is a disease that occurs when the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye, thins and bulges. This change affects the cornea’s ability to focus light, causing astigmatism and nearsightedness, according to the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
As the condition worsens, acute corneal edema can develop, resulting in a sudden loss of vision. Even with treatment, corneal scarring can permanently affect vision.
Chiang invites viewers to experience the world through the eyes of a giant, offering a new perspective on vision and disability through virtual reality technology. Some viewers found the experience of switching perspectives to be frightening, while others embraced the sense of adventure it provided.
Another artist featured in the exhibition was Wang Cheng-hsiang (王正祥), whose works focused on the protest against the Taoyuan Aerotropolis project, a major national infrastructure project. Through documentaries, archival materials, and photographs, Wang’s work addresses land development issues in Taiwan.
The Skovde Art Museum is a division of the Skovde Cultural Center, one of Sweden’s oldest cultural centers with nearly 60 years of history. The museum focuses its collection and exhibitions on three main themes: gender, gender equality, and challenging the status quo.
The museum has hosted a residency program for artists since 2014. Creators from countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, Russia, and South Africa have been invited to participate.
