"Home Town Taiwan," a large online exhibition featuring 33 Taiwanese illustrators is on display from Jan. 25 through Nov. 25. The exhibition centers on Taiwan and focuses on the definition and meaning of "home," it hopes to convey the power of illustrations to comfort and connect people’s hearts across borders amidst the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan Academy in Houston collaborated with internationally renowned children's book artist Page Tsou to set up the exhibition, which is divided into two themes: "Hometown Taiwan" and "Messages from Taiwan." Through a variety of styles and perspectives, it welcomes visitors to "explore" Taiwan from a distance and share a common understanding of home. At the same time, these works may ease the feeling of homesickness for Taiwanese who are unable to return home currently.
Under the theme "Hometown Taiwan," it showcases 59 works by 10 Taiwanese illustrators who are inspired by their lives in Taiwan. Each artist adopts a different style and subject to present the various sides and impressions of Taiwan. This allows people from around the world to get a taste of Taiwan’s charm and distinctive scenery without the need to travel.
The second part of the exhibition "Messages from Taiwan," presents the works of 29 artists through the creation of postcards illustrations. These are the hopes and blessings that Taiwanese artists hoped to convey to people around the world.
Tsou stated that this exhibition is to showcase the appearances of everyday life in Taiwan through the eyes of different artists. He added that, although the architectural style of houses may vary from nation to nation, but the warm feeling a home has to offer is very similar.
Originally slated to open in the middle of this year at the Taiwan Academy in Houston, the bilingual exhibition was forced to go virtual due to the pandemic. To visit the exhibition, please go here.