Young artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait settle in Fuzhou countryside to “compete on the same field”

On October 14th, six groups of young artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait settled in the stone village of Gushi in Huangqi Town, Lianjiang County, Fuzhou, for a two-month creative residency. According to the organizers, these artists will be inspired by the local customs, architectural features, and traditional craftsmanship, visiting local artisans’ workshops and artist studios. Over the next two months, they will “compete” to complete their artistic projects, with a public exhibition scheduled for December 8th.

The launch ceremony for the 2024 “Echoes of Gushi” Strait Youth Art Residency kicked off in the serene setting of Gushi Village. During the event, young artists from both sides shared their creative concepts, inspirations, and expected outcomes of their works, focusing on the village’s architecture, history, and local culture.

Taiwanese artist Lai Ting-an, who specializes in architectural materials, expressed his fascination with the stone houses in Gushi Village upon his arrival. “I plan to employ stone-stacking techniques to design some cliff-like structures, adding a youthful vibe to this story-rich ‘stone village,'” he explained. Lai emphasized his eagerness to cherish this residency experience, collaborating with partners from the mainland to create new works that fuse art with Gushi, Lianjiang, and contemporary society.

Fuzhou-native artist Xue Jun shared his ambitions as well. “I hope to leverage my expertise in multimedia installations and employ technologies like artificial intelligence to create works that resonate with the spirit of the descendants from Lianjiang. I want to ensure that the memories and stories of Gushi Village are seen and understood by a wider audience,” he said.

The call for artists for this residency drew over 60 applications from teams across the Strait, ultimately selecting six groups comprised of designers, architects, and creatives for the artistic effort.

In recent years, Huangqi Town in Lianjiang County has focused on both preserving and revitalizing its cultural heritage, driving rural revitalization alongside cross-strait integration. Initiatives like the Wenhua Creative Base, Cross-Strait Integration Education Center, “Two Mountains Memory” Coastal Camp, and Cliff Coffee have flourished in Gushi Village, enhancing the area’s cultural and tourism appeal.