The COVID-19 pandemic that swept across the globe in 2020 has interrupted many human activities and connections. International trade has become stagnant, and interpersonal contact has been restricted. Many people are forced to isolate themselves at home over long periods as a way to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. On the other hand, the pandemic also prompted many long-term foreign workers to return to their hometown, and back to the familiar embrace of their families. While re-adjusting to their new lives back home, communicating and getting along with family members as well as maintaining and enhancing the quality of home life have become important.

The title of the exhibition, “Wen Dao”, comes from the pronunciation of “our home” in the Taiwanese language. The character “Wen” means warmth, and signifies how home is a place filled with love and warmth. “Dao”, meaning talkative, suggests various forms of nagging and reminding sparked by a strong sense of care between family members. Even though such chatter might be irritating, each sound and word originates from a source of love for each other.

For this exhibition, the latest works of four artists will be showcased, including Wang Tingyu, Lin Baoling, Hsi Shihpin, and Hsu Chihchi (ordered based on the number of strokes of their last name in Chinese). Wang Tingyu’s work features a five-pointed-star based on the four so-called Royal stars, including Fomalhaut, Aldebaran, Alpha Scorpii, and Regulus. The five-pointed star symbolizes multiple images, such as the five elements of the human body, a house, and a stable and solid home. Lin Baoling, meanwhile, defines home using a unique perspective. Using elements such as a lit tent, paint that stack up to form a triangle, and the HOME button of a cell phone, Lin presents people’s imaginations of a warm and comfortable home in modern times.

The brand new sculpture, Horse of Multiple Appearances, by Hsi Shihpin explores the intriguing boundary between the abstract and the physical, just as if the abstract and physical existence of “home” changes with the passage of time in accordance with personal memory and imagination. Lastly, the white abstract sculpture by Hsu Chihchi is a vessel carrying the experience and weightiness of life. It is similar to a home being a perpetual harbor, tolerant and accepting every family member’s happiness and anger, joy and sorrow, as well as coming together and drifting apart.

This time, Soka Art is collaborating with the furniture store Vintage Living Taipei, moving “home” into a white box in the post-pandemic era of early 2021. On Saturday Jan. 9 at 4 pm, the artists will attend the “Wen Dao Housewarming Party”, and share their experience in 2020 with everyone. All friends are welcome to come sit at “Wen Dao”, to chat about you, about me, and about our stories.

★About Vintage Living Taipei★

Since visiting Denmark in 2010, the founder, Eric, unexpectedly found himself drawn to the many stories behind Nordic furniture, and launched his own vintage Nordic furniture store. In addition to collecting antique furniture from around the world, VG has also introduced to Taiwan various outstanding Nordic furniture brands, including One Collection, JL Moller, Konsthantverk, Bernh. Pedersen & So, etc. The store shares the stories of furniture with customers, and guides them to appreciate quality home living to realize the aesthetic concept of: “It’s better to live life well than aspiring to live a life of riches.”