A successful bilateral exchange program was established by Taipei City-based Waley Art with NexUs Culture Nepal located in Kathmandu courtesy of wide-ranging support from the Ministry of Culture.
In 2017, the MOC launched a grant-funding initiative to facilitate cultural exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and South and West Asia. Waley Art, which hosts artist-in-residence programs, community development activities and exhibitions, was among the 27 groups answering the ministry’s call.
Kuei Yeh-chin, director-general of the MOC’s Department of Cultural Exchange, said although Taiwan maintains close economic and trade ties with countries in South and West Asia, including India and Israel, less emphasis was placed on promoting regular cultural exchanges in these regions.
The government recognizes the role such interactions play in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between nations, Kuei said. On an individual level, it broadens perspectives and helps people learn about a new culture; on the government level, it creates diplomatic space, he added.
Nepal artist Jupiter Pradhan’s mixed-media installation work “My Memories” is a product of his 2018 residency at Taipei City-based Waley Art.
According to Peng Tsai-hsuan, director of Waley Art, the group opted to develop cultural contacts with Nepal because it is one of the countries targeted under the New Southbound Policy. On this basis, a bilateral exchange program titled Solastalgia was created.
A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the NSP seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
Waley Art obtained MOC’s funding for exchange projects that ran for four consecutive years from 2017. Through its collaboration with NCN, a total of 15 artists and researchers from the two sides have taken part in a variety of engagements.
Independent curator Chu Feng-yi (second right) undertakes an artist-in-residence project at NexUs Culture Nepal in 2019 courtesy of funding from the Ministry of Culture.
Chu Feng-yi—an independent curator with experience working as a researcher at Taipei City-based Academia Sinica’s Institute of Sociology—was one of the participants. He took his first ever artist-in-residence program at NCN in August 2019.
Chu had a packed schedule of exhibitions, field studies, interviews and lectures during his monthlong stay. Conducting research focusing on religions, occultism and mythology, he enjoyed ample material to work with in a city famous for its spiritual heritage.
It was an honor to visit Nepal and gain a deeper understanding of the local arts, culture and religion, Chu said. In addition to Buddhism and Hinduism, the nation is also a hub for folk religions such as Kumari and Shamanism, he added.
Overall, participating artists and researchers examined issues ranging from gender equality, migrant workers and post-disaster reconstruction to socially vulnerable populations and religious traditions. Be it through art, field surveys, lectures or workshops, these projects are all helping foster cultural awareness and building links between Taiwan and Nepal. (E-KH) (By Kelly Her)
The Taiwan-Nepal Sanitary pad-making workshop My Period･My Pride highlights the importance of menstrual health and hygiene.
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(This article is adapted from Culturally Entwined in the September/October Issue 2021 of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)