In the Moment: Six Artists from Taiwan (即刻, 無需等待)

Chiao-Han Chueh 闕巧涵, Ning Fu 傅寧, Bing-Ao Li 李秉璈, Guan-Hong Lu 盧冠宏, Guan-Jhen Wang 王冠蓁, Qi-Heng Xiao 蕭其珩

Nunu Fine Art New York is pleased to present In the Moment (即 刻, 無需等待), a group exhibition of six Taiwanese artists born and raised in the 1990s. Representing a new generation, these artists came of age with the pervasive influence of social media and thus create their artwork through a uniquely digital lens. As digital natives, the profound impact of growing up in the social media era over the last decade, with its incessant and instant consumption of information, is not only evident in their work but also serves as a defining characteristic that unites their distinct voices.

Taiwanese artists born and raised in the 1990s experienced a period of rapid technological advancement and drastic societal change. As children, they witnessed young adults actively engaged in movements for democracy, human rights, and free artistic expression. As a result, this generation of Taiwanese artists developed unrestrained and spontaneous worldviews and attitudes. While earlier artists focused on themes of human interaction and history, the new practitioners emphasize introspection and individuality.

At a time when digital media permeates both our lives and the visual arts, these young painters operate at the intersection of digital innovation and traditional artistic expression. Through their multifaceted and dynamic visual senses, they reflect on the immediacy and complexity of today’s society.

The exhibition showcases a diverse range of paintings, each informed by the artist’s take contemporary culture. Qi-Heng Xiao reminds us that technology such as Google Maps lacks the emotional warmth and depth of human interaction and the experience of connecting with a place. Guan-Hong Lu addresses everyday absurdity in calm and understated tones. With assertive brushstrokes, Chiao-Han Chueh creates vibrant compositions that radiate eccentricity. Underneath Guan-Jhen Wang’s firm and decisive painterly gestures lies the desire for compassion and real human connection. Fu Ning, depicting endless layers of screens, exposes the obsessiveness of repetitive scrolling and surfing. Bing-Ao Li defies conventional visual language by mixing layers of fictional narratives with reality.

These artists navigate an ever-evolving world, articulating their individual experiences while at the same time offering insights into their generation’s outlook on life. The exhibition highlights the dangers and rewards of the fast-paced, digitally mediated world we live in.

In the Moment (即刻, 無需等待) is curated by Ching-Wen Chang, Associate Professor at the Department of Arts and Design, National Tsing Hua University.