TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Culture’s Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles has collaborated with the Museum of Vancouver to present Taiwanese artist Yao Jui-Chung’s (姚瑞中) photography collection “Mirage” (海市蜃樓), which opened to the public on Thursday (May 30).

A preview event was held on Wednesday (May 29) for nearly 200 museum and art professionals. Attendees included Chien Teh-yuan (簡德源), head of the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles; Liu Li-hsin (劉立欣), director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver; Mauro Vescera, chief executive officer of the Museum of Vancouver; and Dr. Bruce Granville Miller, chair of the museum's board of directors. 

"Mirage" showcases 150 photographs and documentaries created by Yao and his students between 2010 and 2019. They were previously shown in Australia and Malaysia. 

The works depict abandoned public facilities, often referred to as "mosquito halls" (蚊子館) in Taiwan. The aim was to raise awareness about this issue and encourage their revitalization.

At the preview there were discussions about strengthening cultural ties between Taiwan and Canada, according to MOC.

The exhibition highlights the potential of culture and art to promote social progress. The Museum of Vancouver commended Taiwan's political values, noting that democratic governments are more receptive to public concerns.

Mauro Vescera's visit to Yao's studio in Taiwan in 2021 sparked his inspiration for the exhibition. He began planning it upon his return to Canada.

Yao and documentary filmmaker Luo Xiu-zhi (羅秀芝) attended the opening ceremony and provided insights into the exhibition's concepts and significance. They also announced a walking tour in September with Vancouver photographers to capture the city's architecture.

The Museum of Vancouver, Canada's largest civic museum, houses over 85,000 artifacts spanning history, culture, and art. The museum's invitation reflects its recognition of Taiwan's cultural activism and the potential of art to drive urban development.

“In this age of transparency, covering up only causes more harm," Yao said. 

"The mission of this project is to examine the condition of public space usage from the perspective of the peoples. The whole world is facing the same problem but Taiwan is willing to face it, deal with it, and let go, which can set an example for the international community," per Museum of Vancouver.