Making choices on whether to accept or to give up is a situation that an artist has to face when creating work. Living in a foreign land is like being on a drift. How does one communicate with another? And what would happen if two speakers converse in a common, but non-native language? Would there be understandings and misunderstandings, positive feedbacks and negative feedbacks? Or too much information, too many symbols and signs? These were mixtures of my observations in a foreign land, away from the familiarities of Taiwan.



Fellow artists in residency from Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic generally stayed for about a month. The artists from Northern Austria stayed for about 4 months. During our residencies, we had the opportunity to get to know each other and appreciate each other’s works. We came from a variety of places and backgrounds, processes of learning, experiences, and points of view. Our different ideas sparked new inspiration. This hands-on process of accepting and giving back was the most precious experience of the residency. During my time at the Egon Schiele Art Centrum, I discovered that most artists incorporated local elements into their new works. Stimulation from an unfamiliar place has the ability to connect with one’s emotions for that location and make significant marks on his or her memories.



I would like to thank the Council for Cultural Affairs for this opportunity in this international art exchange. I had many valuable conversations with artists from all over the world, and I cherish my friendship with these foreign friends. The Director, Ms. Jirmusova, as well as the other staff at the Egon Schiele Art Centrum were helpful and kind, assisting in solving artistic and life problems. They made me feel happy and comfortable during my 3-month stay, and I hope to have the opportunity to visit again in the future. Unfortunately, artists from most countries only stayed for about a month. I had to say ‘goodbye’ to them just when we began to know each other well. What a shame! I suggested that a small gathering be arranged every week to allow artists to become more familiar with each other. The meetings also served to understand different ways of thinking and viewing specific topics in Western and Eastern perspectives.



There are plenty of art galleries, public art museums, and private commercial spaces in both big cities and small towns in the Czech Republic. These places are often hidden in tiny alleys, inconspicuous yet sparkling with their own characters. A 3-hour drive South of Prague, the town of Cesky Krumlov houses pleasant art spaces and galleries located in ancient castles. Guided tours to these spaces would not only help resident artists further understand the local artistic environment, but it would also promote exchange regarding the function of different art spaces. Art should become something active and close to real life, not something that shuts everything off.



During my residency, I branched out from my usual way of creating and developed a new strand of artwork that enriched my art practice. This new step was one of many positive results that I gained from this residency experience. I was able to view things with a fresh perspective and retain more interest in life. Furthermore, I became visually stimulated through participation in international conversations about art, thus establishing an interesting intersection between art and people.