Within the context of contemporary art, ink painting and nihonga (mineral pigment painting) are no longer confined to traditional forms or techniques. Instead, they have gradually incorporated modern aesthetics and innovation, revealing diverse artistic expressions. This transformation represents not only a shift in artistic form but also the emergence of new modes of expression and aesthetic perspectives rooted in cultural identity. Through reinterpretation and experimentation with traditional materials, artists create works rich in individuality and expressive power, continuing the spirit of East Asian aesthetic traditions.

Through the artists' visual language, the exhibition interprets the emotional experiences embedded within the hidden realms beneath the island's surface. The theme "Habitat" explores the relationship between life and the land, inviting viewers to sense the poetic resonance that emerges from everyday existence. In this diverse world, every living being has its own home—from the deep blue ocean and verdant forests to bustling cities and expansive grasslands. Each environment carries its own vitality and beauty. Our dwelling places—spaces where we live, reflect, and restore ourselves—are also filled with energy. Traditional ink painting often takes landscapes and seasonal changes as its subjects; in contemporary practice, artists reimagine these motifs through renewed interpretations of traditional media, expressing their reflections on various themes and concerns.

In this exhibition, Germain Canon extends his concept of "fragmented landscapes" through installation. Visitors wander along their own paths through suspended landscape elements within the gallery space, effectively reconstructing a landscape by moving beyond the artist's original perspective. The resulting landscape becomes a multifaceted scene shaped by individual experience, subtly reflecting the fragmented visual culture of the digital age. By utilizing the wrinkling of paper when exposed to water, the artist guides the flow of ink to produce shadowed surfaces that transform the paper beyond a flat two-dimensional state. These shadows resemble mountains or peaks. Canon selects textures from different paintings and recombines them, reducing or separating elements to create new images. Much like the fragmented stream of images in social media feeds—where original contexts are removed and meanings shift through viewers' interpretations—these landscapes reassemble fragments into new visual narratives, allowing imagination to expand throughout the exhibition space.

Within the medium of ink painting, Rou-Yin WANG reflects on life through landscapes where emotion and nature intertwine. Circling clouds evoke wandering and entangled thoughts that gradually settle and gather like rivers. Ordered lines and rhythmic, dot-like symbols create a visual language that translates classical techniques into contemporary forms, shaping new landscape imagery. Ya-Chieh KUO and Ming-Tsan TSAI depict everyday life through their signature playful figures, while Tsai-En LEE uses distinctive spatial compositions to express inner emotional states. Seemingly scattered objects—such as withered branches, animal skins, and flames—quietly echo one another, symbolizing reflections on life and mortality. Through diverse brushwork and abstract expressions, these artists create works rich in meaning and introspection.

Mineral pigment painting, with its vibrant colors and imagery, presents the subtle yet intimate relationship between animals and their environments. Cai-Hsin CHANG paints on silk to produce soft, delicate compositions that resemble dreams woven from silk. Meanwhile, Yi-Han WANG and Ting-Wei CHANG incorporate various mixed media materials, adding dimensionality to their works while expressing the coexistence of life and nature.

Through artistic expression and conceptual reflection, the participating artists encourage viewers to reconsider the relationship between humanity and the environment, prompting reflection on how we may coexist harmoniously with the land we inhabit.

In summary, the use of traditional East Asian media within contemporary art not only demonstrates artists' respect for and continuation of cultural heritage, but also offers audiences a renewed aesthetic experience and form of cultural expression. Through cross-cultural dialogue, the pursuit of abstract and symbolic aesthetics, and an engagement with ecological awareness and natural beauty, these works merge the poetic sensibility of Eastern materials with contemporary artistic language—presenting a dynamic and vibrant vision that brings new vitality and depth to contemporary art.

Text by Grace YU