Art one by one: an artist's analysis of ambiguities in contemporary Formosan art

This research has been an investigation of some current aspects of Taiwan's contemporary art and society, expressed through three major exhibitions of paintings. The exhibitions were shown under the following titles — Ambiguity Between Man and Woman, 'Leisure Art Centre', Taipei, Taiwan, 1992, The Culture of Powerful Personal Relationships and Connections, 'Capital Art Center', Tai-Chung, Taiwan, 1993 and ART One by One, 'Long Gallery', University of Wollongong, Australia, 1993 and 'Fire Station Gallery', Sydney, Australia, 1994. There are few complete and comprehensive writings of the development of art in Taiwan in the late twentieth century. The dissertation accompanying the exhibitions gives an overview of art developments, which have led to the current issues forming the subjects of the artworks. The works deal with a number of general social issues, including gender roles and power positions in contemporary life in Taiwan, but focus particularly on the issue, which concerns many artists in Taiwan, the tension between creating works in an international art scene and at the same time developing works, which deal honestly with and reflect the specific qualities of their own culture. Within this debate is the conflict between tradition and importation of styles, forms and ideas. The culminating exhibition suggests the possibility of co-existence of art-forms, which can be an honest reflection of today's Taiwan. As the author's own art development is part of this story, the written documentation is a presentation of an historical overview, at times interwoven with a personal history. In the same way, the art works deal with general issues, but reflect a personal involvement, so can be seen as portraits of a society and at the same time self-portraits.