In collaboration with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Thailand, the MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum launched an art exchange exhibition on Nov. 2 in Chiang Mai to showcase the creations of both Taiwanese and Thai artists.
Titled “The Ancestors,” the exhibition aims to explore the close relationship between Taiwan and Thailand through the concept and meaning of kinship, highlighting cultural similarities between the two countries. The featured artists are Chen Chien-pei (陳建北), Kuo Chin-yun (郭敬耘), and Chang En-man (張恩滿) from Taiwan, along with Busui Ajaw, Pinaree Sanpitak, and Jedsada Tangtrakulwong from Thailand.
The exhibited artworks by Taiwanese artists include Chen’s “Midwife Overture (助產序曲),” which unfolds the history of midwifery in Taiwan; Kuo’s “Cartographer (製圖者)” and “Blank Zone (空白地帶)” that tell the stories of Taiwan’s various ethnic groups as they migrate within the island; and Chang’s “Snail Paradise Trilogy: Setting Sail or Closing Chapter (蝸牛樂園三部曲—啟航或終章),” which presents how the artist explores her self-identity through the traditional Indigenous cuisine.
At the opening ceremony, Eric Bunnag Booth, founder of MAIIAM, thanked the six featured artists and the curatorial team Kohkae Collective, adding that he was happy to work with Taiwanese artists. Kuei Yeh-chin (桂業勤), head of the Cultural Division of the TECO in Thailand, expressed his hopes for further artistic exchange between Taiwan and Thailand. Chen, one of the artists featured in the exhibition, also attended the opening ceremony and introduced his artwork to the guests.
The exhibition is taking place until Feb. 17, 2025. In addition, the Taiwanese guest artists are also invited to hold discussion sessions during the Chiangmai Design Week, which will be held in December.
For more information, please visit the website of MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum.