Taiwan Today

A newly founded studio in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City is bringing local artists together and helping build community links.

Apainter with some 30 years of experience, 60-year-old Lin Ying-tarng (林蔭棠) found himself faced with a problem familiar to millions around the world this past year: how to stay motivated while working alone? After four years of renting a private studio, the artist struggled with his professional solitude, deciding instead to seek a new workspace and, most importantly, fellow creatives to share it with. The decision proved to be the spark that reignited his passion for the arts and introduced him to some like-minded friends.

To resolve his problem, Lin founded a new studio called the Daw Din Club. Located in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City, its name includes the Holo—also known as Taiwanese—words for “get together.”

“Trying to be productive on my own was becoming increasingly difficult as the monotonous routine and social isolation made me feel depressed. It was taking a toll on my mental health, and I needed a change,” Lin said. “I asked around and found that many other artists were having similar experiences.” With the goal of creating a communal space, Lin and fellow artists Chen Jun-xian (陳俊憲), Huang Chiaxiang (黃佳祥) and Zheng Hong-nan (鄭宏南) decided to set up Daw Din in Tainan’s Anping District. Housed in an old warehouse, the studio is a multifunctional complex suitable for a wide variety of artistic pursuits.

“Life’s been much more exciting and satisfying since I began working at Daw Din. I have the opportunity to interact with lots of people from across generations who bring different ways of thinking,” Lin said. “Plus, the space is large enough for me to paint, display and store artworks of various sizes.”

Close Cooperation

According to Zheng, who serves as studio coordinator, Daw Din is an artists’ village where cross-disciplinary creatives focus on making art and honing their skills while tapping into the experiences of fellow residents. “It’s often said that artists are difficult to get along with as we tend to have strong opinions,” he said. “But Daw Din is a warm and inclusive environment that inspires creativity and innovation.”

Zheng believes there are many benefits to a shared workspace for growing businesses and professional networks. “I like to promote a dynamic and open work culture,” he said. “Coworking is a great way to share ideas, strategies and advice in addition to saving on rental costs.”

The 661-square-meter, two-story building provides each artist with a personal space alongside communal areas. It is thus divided into different sections for creating art, displaying works and hosting classes and workshops, as well as a kitchen and dining area, while various courses are on offer for residents including music lessons and tea ceremonies.

“What we have in common is a shared passion for using art to stimulate creative thinking,” Zheng said. “By organizing different activities and diversifying our skill sets, we can expand our horizons and bring in new sources of income to sustain our operations.”

Daw Din also has an active role in producing the next generation of artists. To that end, it hosts a program supporting new university graduates interested in ceramic art by providing them with workspaces, clay and glaze materials, as well as facilities such as an electric kiln and pottery wheel free of charge for up to three years. “We want to help talented youngsters kick-start their creative endeavors,” Zheng said.

Fellow Daw Din resident Chen is fully behind the idea, noting that young creatives often cannot afford to rent space or purchase equipment, which makes it all the more important that organizations share their resources when possible. With proper support, these individuals can unleash their potential, he added.

Reaching Out

For Chen, a metal and wood sculptor, the major incentives for artists to join Daw Din are to establish working relationships and reach out to new customers. “Compared to my old studio in the countryside, the club provides a fun and energetic environment to socialize with other artists,” he said. “I also have enough space to host DIY workshops and teach art to children—something that I love to do but simply wasn’t possible when I was working from home.”

Daw Din’s ability to facilitate networking among local artists has impressed Chen. With access to many of the finest names in Tainan’s art scene, residents can more easily team up to take on public art commissions that demand a lot of time, effort and expertise, he said. “Many artists have a hard time selling their art. As a group, we can launch joint marketing campaigns through exhibitions, fairs and social media channels to achieve greater results in terms of reach, visibility and sales advances that couldn’t have been accomplished alone.”

Echoing Chen’s remarks, visual artist Huang said co-establishing Daw Din appealed to him because of the potential for exchanges among art creators and collectors. He enjoys using the studio to hone his craft, meet new friends and learn from others in his spare time.

Huang, a dentist by trade, has a keen interest in experimental techniques. He opts to create art pieces using diffraction grating—separating light into its constituent colors as it passes through the fine slits of a grating—because he is fascinated by the way perspective can alter perception.

“Taiwan’s culture is reflected in local arts and aesthetics, and everyone can appreciate a beautiful or thought-provoking artwork,” he said. “Collectives such as Daw Din are helping promote a unique national identity by focusing on what distinguishes the country’s arts and artists.”

Huang is hoping that his engagement in Daw Din helps encourage budding creatives to realize their visions and pursue careers in the arts. “In a coworking environment, exchanges are more personal, and there are all kinds of exciting possibilities available when resources are shared,” he said. “The club is a place where we come together and support one another.”

Put simply Daw Din is all about sharing, according to Zheng. “We’ve created a space that communicates our love of art and hopefully inspires others to share in it,” he said. “If we can be a catalyst for the creation of more works and bring in a wider audience, I think we can be proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw