Manga artist Lin Li-ching introduces her works in Taiwanese Hokkien. Image from Chia-Fang Yu's Facebook.
Y-shaped sculpture artist Huang Jing-hua. Image from Chia-Fang Yu's Facebook.
Artist Yu Chia-fang introduces her research on the Keelung Ghost Festival offerings. Image from Chia-Fang Yu's Facebook.
Ceramic artist Tien Wen introduces his creations. Image from Chia-Fang Yu's Facebook.
Fashion designer Hung Li-fen discusses her work through a fashion show video. Image from Chia-Fang Yu's Facebook.
Musician Cheng Jui-chen performs on the guqin. Image from Chia-Fang Yu's Facebook.
During this Dragon Boat Festival, we even ate zongzi during the free networking time at the dinner.

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Paris is a gentle haven where art and humanities converge. Art and culture represent Taiwan’s most potent new diplomatic energy. Beyond its reputation as an island of technology, Taiwan’s greatest pride lies in its soft power. There is no other way for the world to see and feel Taiwan’s voice than through art and humanities. Amidst current diplomatic challenges, only art and humanities can highlight Taiwan’s universal values and uniqueness.

The Taiwan Representative Office in France held its second edition of the "Artistic Reunion" event this year. On this special Dragon Boat Festival day, it was rare to gather artists of all generations—painters, cartoonists, sculptors, ceramicists, musicians, composers, curators, fashion designers, critics, and performance artists—to exchange ideas. Younger artists presented their creations via slideshows: Mei-Chin Chen, Li-ching Lin, Ching-hua Huang, Yu-pei Wu, Chia-fang Yu, Li-fen Hung, Hsueh-cheng Sung, Ya-ping Wang, Wen Tien, and Zhi-jin Lee. The presentations concluded with live performances by three musicians. During the subsequent free networking time at the reception, zong (sticky rice dumplings) were even served.

In these diverse presentations by young artists, I felt that the farther one is from home, the deeper the sense of identity becomes. The anxieties regarding Taiwan’s uncertain future are visibly or invisibly reflected in their work. I witnessed their creative passion and keen observation of both their surroundings and their homeland. It was precious to glimpse a new wave of energy in Taiwanese art within Paris.

Furthermore, what remains unforgettable is the enthusiastic participation of couples among Taiwanese painters living in Paris, such as Peng Wan-chi, Ying-te Chen, Sheng-bang Ho, and Chun-he Hung. Artists known or unknown to me traveled from afar to join, including Tzu-ming Liu, Hsiang-lan Liu, Wen-yu Su, and Pei-ling Cheng. I also had the honor of meeting Lin Chiu-fang, a painter from Yilan passing through Paris for an exhibition, and Fred Chih-Chia Chung, a Taiwanese serving at the Musée du quai Branly in Paris.

The accumulating power and value of Taiwan’s humanities and arts will surely make the world take notice. Every artist is a light for Taiwan; gathering our energy together to illuminate the island. Under this premise, we should deeply consider how to more effectively harness our own potential.