Yo-Chang Art Museum of The National Taiwan University of Arts is proud to present Encounter & Immersion, an exhibition showcasing the work of two Australian artists: photographer Denise Ferris and painter Ruth Waller. Both have had long artistic careers exhibiting in Australia and internationally. Encounter & Immersion is Ferris and Waller’s first exhibition in Taiwan, and it presents the opportunity to consider their work side-by-side. In doing so, the contrast between the formal qualities of painting and photo-media recede to highlight the artists’ shared understanding of environment and the natural world.

The work on display provides a profound insight into the relationship Ferris and Waller have with their surroundings. Nature and its exploration is the inspiration for this work. Here, art is the tool through which these artists contemplate their surroundings. Waller’s material understanding of paint resonates with her fascination with the minute and the miniature. Paintings born from examining leaf, rock and brush forms have expanded into journeys through bushland and mountain ranges. Ferris’ work is also an exploration. Her photographs create a sense of sublime awe. But on scratching the surface, spending time with the work becomes a practice of quiet contemplation. The work becomes a place to consider ourselves, the effect we have on the natural, and its effect on us.

Encounter & Immersion is the latest in a series of cultural exchange opportunities between Taiwan and Australia. The National Taiwan University of Arts and the Australian National University in Canberra have recently enjoyed numerous opportunities to exhibit work and share ideas, establishing a creative dialogue between Taiwanese and Australian artists, teachers and students. In 2014 the ANU School of Art Gallery hosted Art of “Made in Taiwan’(MIT)”: The Exhibition of Taiwan Academy of Fine Arts (TAFA) at Australian National University (curated by NTUA professors CHUNG You-hui and LIAO Hsin-tien), an eclectic exhibition of work highlighting the diversity of the arts in Taiwan. Encounter & Immersion at NTUA continues this exchange, building a connection based around facilitating cultural communication, developing artistic endeavours, and strengthening our strong sense of friendship. 

Exhibition runs from 9 to 25 April 2015

Text and images supplied.

Media

An eye for the abstract by Dana Ter for Taipei Times. Review and conversation with the artists.