Breaking Ground: Art and Activism in Indigenous Taiwan

Date｜2026/04/23-2026/08/21

Time｜ Mon.-Fri. 09:00～17:00

Opening｜ 2025/04/23 

Curator｜ Dr. Manuela Well-Off-Man, Nakaw Putun, Jay Chun-Chieh Lai

Exhibition Statement｜

Breaking Ground: Art & Activism in Indigenous Taiwan is a thematic exhibition co-organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) and the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) in New Mexico, USA. The exhibition’s debut in New Mexico garnered widespread acclaim and positive feedback. The curatorial team was co-led by MoCNA chief curator Manuela Well-Off-Man and NTMoFA curator Jay Chun-Chieh Lai, who were joined by Nakaw Putun as a guest curator. Featuring 10 artists and art collectives, this exhibition focuses on art activism within contemporary Taiwanese Indigenous art, demonstrating the pluralistic identities, existential challenges, and ecological consciousness reflected in the new generation of Taiwanese Indigenous artists.

To extend the impact of the Breaking Ground exhibition and share it with art aficionados in Taiwan, the curatorial team has brought the exhibition to Taipei. Retaining the original lineup of artists with some adjustments to the exhibits, the Taipei edition explores several sub-themes such as “Coloniality and Indigeneity,” “Gender, Identity, and Belief,” and “Learning from Nature.” The exhibition reveals Indigenous peoples’ sui generis perspectives and temporal consciousness, particularly their profound connections with ancestral spirits and the natural environment. In recent years, Indigenous issues have come under the global spotlight, leading to a surge in related theoretical and artistic practices. Furthermore, the concept of “Indigeneity” has been pushed to the forefront. It not only concerns the languages, cultures, religions, arts, and identities of specific regions and Indigenous groups, but also serves as a kernel of discussions on power, justice, and economics in academic disciplines such as sociology and anthropology. The comparative horizons opened up by Indigeneity can thus be extended to the contemporary global context, urging a collective reflection on the existential conditions and social justice of humankind.

This exhibition aims to present the diverse landscape of contemporary Taiwanese Indigenous art while deepening the discursive exchange between different cultural perspectives. Bringing together unique, sharply critical works in contemporary Taiwanese art, this exhibition also affords visitors in Taiwan a fascinating glimpse into the brilliance of the artists and artworks that were showcased in the United States.

Participating Artists

1. Ali Istanda 
2. Aluaiy Kaumakan
3. Chang En-Man 
4. Ciwas Tahos 
5. Idas Losin
6. Iyo Kacaw
7. Labay Eyong
8. Makotaay Eco Art Village
9. Mayaw Biho  
10. Rngrang Hungul

The exhibition was supported by the Ministry of Culture (Taiwan), R.O.C., under the Taiwan Content Plan.