Relational Field: The Cultural Landscape of New Taipei in the 1990s│400│Introduction

Introduction [The script of this episode] During its preparatory phase, the New Taipei City Art Museum began to trace the history of experimental art in the 1990s, a chapter often described as “the greatest carnival of the late 20th century,” through publications, forums, and other initiatives. Relational Field emerges from this research-driven approach, focusing on the artistic practices at the Taipei County Cultural Center between 1992 and 1997, combining interviews and archival documentation with works by artists who were active in the 1990s and continue to make art today. Together, these elements re-map the artistic networks of that era, networks shaped by interdisciplinary collaboration and international exchange, and illuminate the avant-garde spirit that fueled them. Beginning in 1992, the Taipei County Cultural Center drew public attention to local issues, such as environmental ecology and folk belief, through its exhibition themes and the reform of the Taipei County Art Exhibition. During this time, noise art also began to flourish, seeking to disrupt the social order. Critics have since dubbed this period the “wild 90s.” If 1980s art helped open a window on democracy and diversity in public space, then 1990s art sought to break free from systemic constraints by initiating a new dialogue with the environment, sound, and folk traditions, ultimately building a new cultural landscape rooted in local sensibilities. This research exhibition offers a lens into the environmental trauma caused by river pollution, while highlighting the humanitarian concern intrinsic in artistic practice. From river basins to mountain ranges, Relational Field charts* Taiwan’s journey toward a form of self-naming th*rough an interdisciplinary approach, spanning archaeology, geology, geography, anthropology, and curating, as we reflect on the land that has nurtured us. ---------- Relational Field: The Cultural Landscape of New Taipei in the 1990s 2025.08.16-12.21 ｜Curator｜ WANG Pin-hua ｜Artists｜ WANG Fujui, WU Mali, LIN Chi-wei, YAO Jui-Chung, KAO Jun-honn, HUANG Ming-chuan, LIU Chen-hsiang ｜Oral Archive Providers｜ Sisy CHEN, CHIEN Ming-hui ｜More Information｜https://ntcart.museum/EN/exhibition/H2507001