Between Waves and Soils represents the ever-changing boundary between land and water, while also metaphorically reflecting the constantly shifting borders of living spaces between humans and non-human life forms.
 
Who owns the land and water? How are the boundaries of “ownership”—be they defined by communities, nations, economic zones, or colonies—established and demarcated? These inquires fuel the inspiration behind this exhibition. Long before humans appeared, the planet we rely on for survival had already been undergoing continuous geographical changes. However, as human civilization developed on a massive scale, territorial conflicts, national disputes, and land and water exploitation have caused impacts far more pronounced and disruptive than those of other life forms cohabiting this planet. Particularly since the Industrial Revolution, the commodification and capitalization of nature have turned it into quantifiable and measurable resources, exploited by the powerful while squeezing the needs of the marginalized and other species.
 
With global resource tensions intensifying, the contradictions and conflicts in resource distribution have become ever more urgent. Boundaries, in this context, become one of the key markers by which humans recognize and utilize resources. Yet the supposedly fixed borders are actually visual constructs created by humans for control and planning. Addressing and confronting these shifting borders is central to the themes of Between Waves and Soils.
 
This exhibition aims to explore the interconnected relationship between humans and their environments through three perspectives: “Symbiosis and Healing,” “Measurement, Observation, and Documentation,” and “Multiple Narratives.” Featuring works by ten groups of artists from Taiwan, Macau, Singapore, and Italy, it begins from a compassionate approach that embraces healing and coexistence, to scientific views that empathize with the non-human, we delve into the borders where different communities, environments, and resources meet, inviting viewers to reconsider their place within it.



Curators
Tammy Yu Ting HSIEH
HSU Po Han
 
Artists
CAI Guo Jie
Labay Eyong
Chia Wei HSU
HSU Su Chen (1966-2013) + LU Chien Ming
Aping ISMAHASAN
Sheng Wen LO
Tommaso MUZZI
Lafin SAWMAH (1983-2023)
Heidi YIP
Robert ZHAO Renhui


Section 1: Symbiosis and Healing
In this section, artists embody a way of living rooted in "coexistence" rather than ownership, control, or exploitation, forging profound connections with the land and waters. Through their creations, they invite audiences to experience this reverence for mountains and seas, resonating with the artists’ deep respect and awareness. These works also serve as acts of healing, offering solace to both the creators and their communities. At the same time, they provoke reflection on issues such as land development and the divisive impacts of capitalism, shedding light on humanity's use—and misuse—of land and water systems.  


Labay Eyong presents a series of works reflecting on the mining site at Dungku Asang, a traditional indigenous territory, in her village.


Aping Ismahasan's new work "Return" commissioned for this exhibition touches upon the impact of Typhoon Morakot in 2009 that nearly torn the tribe apart. 


Section 2: The Intersection of Science and Art: Measurement, Observation, and Documentation
How do artists with a scientific background, or those employing scientific methods in their creations, intertwine reflections on science and technology with humanitarian imagination to question the boundaries between humanity and nature? From works that critique the potential risks of overdevelopment, to those that observe and document plants navigating harsh environments as metaphors for the struggles of immigrants, and even pieces that construct post-human island scenarios within pseudo-scientific frameworks to examine humanity's intervention in the environment, these creations invite audiences to ponder: who is the true invader?


Robert Zhao Renhui designs a new wall paper for his "Christmas Island, Naturally" series and exhibit the newly found archival photos of the island for the first time. 


Section 3: Multifaceted Narratives: The Blurring and Reconstruction of Borders
Here, the audience will encounter works that explore diverse perspectives and narratives surrounding human migration and territorial demarcation. These works also expand their focus to the intersections of land and ocean, uncovering the intricate realities of geopolitics and collective memory across various regions. They highlight the tensions inherent in national borders and their entanglement with issues of ecology, industry, crime, and ownership.


Chia-Wei Hsu shows three works related to Northern Thailand and Golden Triangle, telling complex and intertwined stories of Chinese army, opium, CIA and gamble industry that take place on the borders. 


The exhibition has also published a catalogue with in-depth essays of the artists and their works. Please refer here for more information.


Supervisor: Ministry of Culture, Ocean Affairs Council, Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Kaohsiung City Government
Organizer: Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts
Art Partner: Kaohsiung Film Archive, VR Film Lab