In 2015, the United Nations announced the "2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)", instructing the world to work together towards sustainability. However, what is sustainability? Why are we talking about it? From whose point of view does the so-called sustainability come from?

Over the past two hundred years, the three industrial revolutions in human history have brought about outstanding economic development and urbanization results. Through the use of machines and technology, humans have acquired resources at a speed that is like an unconscious turntable, spinning faster and faster. Industrial production has affected the natural ecology, and the drastic environmental changes brought about by climate change have challenged even basic human living conditions. We have lost our way and even forgotten the purpose of coming to this world. Being born in this world, in addition to obtaining the necessities for survival and developing, what should we give back to this world? We take so much so quickly, but give so little in return. This is the fundamental reason why humans around the world must strive to move towards sustainability.

Artists as Givers: Artistic Reflections On Sustainability, curated by Nicole DAI, presents artworks from artists Wen Chih WANG, Gabrielle Yi-Wen MAR, Li Chi HSIAO. NSO Music Lab music-intervention concert at the opening ceremony is another feature of the cross-border art exhibition. Four groups of artists give responses to sustainability issues in an artistic way.

Internationally renowned artist Wen Chi WANG has always taken "the relationship between man and nature" as the main theme of his art. After studying in France and returning to Taiwan, he returned to his hometown to find his roots. In the soil of Meishan, he found his way to articulate, and thus won numerous world awards and recognition from global art festivals. In this exhibition, WANG uses Taiwan's native rattan to weave a giant "Beyond the Cloud" installation work, allowing audience’ five senses experience with bare feet, like traveling in the primeval forest of the soul.

The works of NY-based artist Gabrielle Yi-Wen MAR advocate personal physical and mental balance and dialogue, integrating emotional care and positive encouragement into her paintings, soothing people's hearts through colors and lines, and promoting mental health. “The Ethereal Garden" on display this time inspires the philosophy of life from the world of flowers."Slow Flowers in Four Seasons" reminds people to cherish the environment.

Digital native artist Li Chi HSIAO, living and creating in Europe & Taiwan, embarked on a wandering journey in a campervan after the epidemic. Hsiao’s new media installation "Corner Whispers" on display, an immersive interaction device, is a record of the artist's beginning to explore nature which was strange for her. It leads the audience to realize that human beings are part of the overall ecology.

Art cannot solve the problem of sustainability from a material level, but it can provide you and me with a perspective to think about: How to be a giving person? As givers, artists start from their own life experiences and use artistic techniques to give us a way of seeing, showing the infinity of creation. Human beings have received a lot from society and the external environment. How to repay the mother who has protected and nourished us since childhood? By understanding the life stories and creative concepts of the artists, this exhibition asks the audience to think about: Dear world, what can I do for you?

Opening & NSO Music Lab Concert
2024.5.13 (Mon.) 14:00 – 15:30