Before the Storm. Taiwan on the Border of Past and Future

Fifteen years after the first exhibition of contemporary Taiwanese art, the Ludwig Museum presents "Before the storm. Taiwan on the border of past and future," a new overview of contemporary art on the island and, indirectly, of the experiences and dilemmas that define Taiwan's past, present and future.

Opening this week-end, the selection features works by twenty internationally renowned artists and artist groups who address important themes such as the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, the lingering traces of colonization, Taiwan's rich and traumatic history at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the formation of modern Taiwanese identity and values, and the technology-based economy and society of the present and future. The exhibited works are also extremely diverse in terms of genre: in addition to installations, interactive projects, videos, and animations using the most innovative technologies, visitors can also encounter archaic techniques, paper works, paintings and sculptures.

Taiwan could be compared to a modern ship sailing the seas, equipped with the most advanced technology, but from time to time facing elemental forces and storms that push it into dangerous waters and test its resilience. Although Taiwan may seem like a distant and unknown land to the Hungarian public, in today's globalized world, the waves caused by storms quickly reach our shores as well – just think of the current trade wars, the competition for raw materials, or the ideological, religious, and armed conflicts. However, in a rapidly changing economic and political environment, the preservation of natural and cultural values, critically confronting the past, and building a diverse, resilient society based on solidarity and democracy are common values that both Taiwan and Europe embrace, mutually respect, and strive to preserve.

The exhibition is structured around five thematic units, which interact closely and intertwine throughout the works and the exhibition as a whole. The main themes are: "The Beautiful Island" – indigenous heritage, natural environment, and cultural traditions; "Parallel Stories" – the colonial past and its imprints; "Turbulent History and Traumas" – the turbulent events of the 19th and 20th centuries; "The New Taiwanese Identity" – modern democracy and contemporary values; and "Taiwan Today and Tomorrow" – modernization, economic development, and new technologies. The themes lead from Taiwan's past to the present, where layers of historical experience and cultural heritage overlap to project possible scenarios for the future.