A fusion of East and West, a contemporary aesthetic: A joint exhibition of American LA artists and a dialogue between Taiwanese and American artists. Ooka Art Space presents a lively art feast.
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[Reporter Xin Pengxiang/Interview Report]
At the turn of summer and autumn, the oppressive heat of the autumn heat truly makes a difference for visitors from afar. A unique exhibition, “NEW LA: American Contemporary Artists Joint Exhibition,” curated and hosted by Ooka Art Space, brought together young artists from Los Angeles and renowned Taiwanese calligraphers and painters with scholarly backgrounds. Capitalizing on the excitement surrounding the opening, a “Taiwanese-American Artist Dialogue” event was organized, bringing together artists from both regions to discuss endless topics. The diverse and rich contemporary mixed-media works showcased delicate, rich elements of Eastern structure, permeating the exhibition’s atmosphere and spirit, offering visitors new perspectives and profound insights. This lively and rare exchange allowed artists from both regions to freely express their insights, ranging from observations and experiences to profound emotions. This artistic feast unfolded, sharing their learning and creative experiences, making this type of exchange exhibition highly meaningful and a source of constant discussion.
Professor Shi Chunmao (first from right), Chairman of the Ooka Culture and Arts Foundation, expressed his welcome to the American artists participating in the exhibition and expressed his support for exchanges and dialogue between Taiwanese and American artists in his opening speech. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Professor Shi Chunmao, a well-known calligrapher and chairman of the Ooka Culture and Arts Foundation, attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition on the 13th as the organizer. In his speech, he expressed his welcome to the arrival of four contemporary artists from LA, USA and the exhibition of their works. From the international residency art journey to Taiwan, one can deeply feel that these artists have a full understanding and affection for Eastern and even Taiwanese culture, which is naturally reflected in their artistic works. This kind of creation that combines Eastern and Western cultures can better reflect the development trajectory of contemporary art, providing a new guide for artists who have made contributions and reliance in the field of art. From the works exhibited by contemporary artists from the United States this time, we can see the characteristics and advantages of the fusion of East and West, which opens up a transformation opportunity for the future development of art.
You Wenmei (left), Chairman of the Tainan Museum of Art and Secretary-General of the Republic of China Art Gallery Association, attended the opening ceremony and offered congratulations and praise to the participating artists. Professor Shi Chunmao, renowned calligrapher and Chairman of the Ooka Culture and Arts Foundation, is on the right. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Zhuang Liandong (center), professor of the Department of Fine Arts and dean of the College of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University, explains the significance of this joint exhibition of Los Angeles artists in Taiwan, which has played a positive role in promoting artistic exchange between Taiwan and Malaysia. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
The “NEW LA American LA Contemporary Artists Joint Exhibition” features five artists: Nathan CARTWRIGHT, Joseph KOWALCZYK, Michael Turner, Olivia Obrecht, and Ginger Chen. Michael Turner was unable to travel to Taiwan due to personal reasons, leaving four LA artists to participate in the joint exhibition. Their exhibition in Taiwan showcases a cross-cultural exchange, and a “Taiwanese-American Artist Dialogue” will be held on the opening day of the exhibition on the 13th. This dialogue allowed attendees from the arts and cultural communities, artists, and the public in Taiwan and the US to closely hear the mindsets and creative mindsets of these artists, allowing them to deeply experience the diverse facets of art within the context of our times.
Nathan Catright, an artist from Los Angeles, is a gallery director and curator. He has attracted market attention for his use of mixed media to present contemporary art trends. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Nathan Cartwright is a mixed-media artist from Los Angeles, USA, and the founder and curator of Hive Gallery and Studio. His work has been exhibited internationally, and he is renowned for curating major art festivals throughout the United States. He currently organizes a vibrant art scene in the ArtWalk Row arts district in downtown Los Angeles. Nathan Cartwright’s artistic practice is rooted in a personal mythology that explores the importance of authentic living. He maintains an open mind and values the value of diverse creative endeavors. Maintaining a vibrant and focused subject matter, he also strives to be innovative and unique in his clothing and accessories. He emphasizes that art is a universal language, expressing emotion through creation. For his exhibition in Taiwan, he created new, portable works, employing mixed media and carefully selected materials, imbuing his work with contemporary trends and perspectives, offering a truly eye-opening experience.
Olivia Obrecht’s work centers around visual narrative, oscillating between abstraction and figuration. This exhibition, centered around a contrasting black and white palette, hints at the flow of oriental elements, creating a uniquely personal style. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Olivia Obrecht is an illustrator and tattoo artist. Recipient of the 2016 “Excellence in Fine Art Drawing Award,” she is known for her bold black-and-white compositions and meticulous brushwork. Primarily working in pen and ink, her work encompasses female portraits, framed by patterns and organic forms. Her works often express inner thoughts, transformation, and personal growth, and focus on nature-themed works such as flowers, insects, birds, mushrooms, and landscapes. Her works feature a halo-like pattern of dots and circles surrounding her subjects, a visual language she developed over the course of her career to convey energy and the human spirit. Olivia’s work encompasses a variety of media, from elegant Japanese-colored cardboard to cross-sections of natural wood, where the grain becomes part of the composition, and black-on-white panels for striking contrast. Her imagery draws inspiration from the organic flow of Art Nouveau, the geometric precision of Art Deco, and traditional Japanese motifs and landscapes. Her distinctive blend of delicate and bold linework in both art and tattooing is evident.
Joseph Kowalczyk, a sculptor from the San Francisco Bay Area, creates stunning compositions through a clever fusion of Eastern and Western influences. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Joseph Kowalczyk is an award-winning sculptor and painter who has been actively working in the Bay Area since receiving his BFA in Ceramics and Illustration from California College of the Arts in 2006. His work is included in private and public collections such as the Museum of American Ceramic Art in Pomona, California; the Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taipei, Taiwan; and the John Nasoulas Collection in Davis, California. In addition to his own studio practice and personal gallery (FM Oakland), Joe teaches ceramics at Sonoma State University. He also runs his own kiln restoration company, providing kiln restoration and assistance services to artists throughout Northern California.
Chinese-American artist Shu-Jun Chen, with a background in industrial and graphic design, primarily uses ceramics as her medium. Her work connects people and the richness of their stories through handmade art, drawing widespread attention. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Ginger Chen, an artist with a background in industrial and graphic design, was born in Taiwan and has lived in the United States for over 20 years. She has long been passionate about character-based storytelling. She has been collecting toys of all kinds for over two decades, drawing inspiration from the charm and stories embodied in these expressive, endearing characters, bringing passion and a sense of joy to her creations. Currently, Chen uses ceramics as her primary medium, bringing her imaginative characters to life, infusing them with personality, whimsy, and joy. Through her work, she hopes to evoke a sense of nostalgia and wonder in viewers, connecting people to the magic of storytelling through handmade art. Defining her work through the lens of storytelling, she has transitioned from an early art collector to a creative artist, embracing the vast realm of art and allowing her work to speak with unwavering passion.
Michael Turner’s exhibited works are full of ocean imagery. He excels in using mixed media, creating distinctive compositions that make his works impressive. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Michael Turner, who was unable to participate in the Taiwan Art Residency this time but also exhibited a work, is a professional American artist known for his creativity and experimental spirit. Early on, he specialized in creating modern sculptures using recycled materials, and his work has also expanded into film props, landscape design, and furniture design. Michael’s bold and distinctive style often features strong colors, unique totemic textures, and relief-like paintings and sculptures, gradually developing a highly recognizable artistic language. He actively participates in gallery exhibitions, art festivals, and art fairs in major cities across the United States, producing works that are both impressive and unforgettable. Currently residing in Florida with his own studio, he continues to explore his own creative process, constantly challenging media and forms to showcase his unique artistic charm.
Foreign artists participating in the Taiwan-Malaysia Artists Dialogue Lecture happily exchanged ideas with Taiwanese artists. From left to right, they included French artist HUGO, American LA artist Chen Shujun, Olivia Obrecht, Joseph Kowalczyk, and Nathan Kitright. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
The opening ceremony invited several renowned scholars with backgrounds in art to deliver speeches and introduce four contemporary American artists. French artist HUGO, who has been studying and creating art in Taiwan for 10 years, and Taiwanese gouache and ink artist Zhou Minghan also joined the opening to share their creative reflections. Professor Shih Chun-mao, Chairman of the Ooka Art and Culture Foundation, the organizer of the exhibition, expressed his hope in his speech that Taiwanese and American artists would be able to engage in in-depth exchanges through this rare exhibition. He also expressed his hope that it would be a rare art event to have several academic professors who have studied and created in the United States to share their experiences. You Wen-mei, Chairman of the Tainan City Museum of Art and Secretary-General of the Republic of China Art Gallery Association, made a special appearance to congratulate the American artists who had come from afar to participate in the exhibition. He also affirmed and praised the Ooka Art Space for its generosity and creativity in planning and hosting this event, making this international art exchange event highly anticipated.
Renowned Taiwanese artists and art educators Professor Shi Chunmao (from left), Professor Zhuang Liandong, Professor Li Zongren, and Professor He Yaozhi, among others, each shared their experiences studying and creating in the United States, explaining the importance and necessity of international cultural exchange. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Following the opening ceremony, a dialogue between Taiwanese and American artists was moderated by Professor Zhuang Liandong, Professor of the Department of Fine Arts and Dean of the College of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University. Participating professors with backgrounds in art included Professor Li Zongren, Professor of the National Taiwan University of Arts and Director of the Youzhang Art Museum, and Professor He Yaozhi of the Department of Painting and Calligraphy at the same university. The dialogue focused on topics such as cross-cultural artistic exchange, the core concepts of artistic creation, and the methods and challenges of artistic creation. Three Taiwanese scholars with artistic backgrounds, four young contemporary artists based in Los Angeles, and several local artists shared their observations and reflections on the interdisciplinary and multicultural nature of art. The works in this exhibition offered insights into current trends in contemporary art and the cultural values inherent in future thinking about international art trends. The dialogue, with Taiwanese and American artists presenting their perspectives and joined by observations and responses from several local artists, was a lively gathering.
Artist and curator Tang Mengqiu (third from left) of Ooka Art Space discusses topics with host Professor Zhuang Liandong (second from left) and American artists, hoping to bring innovative perspectives to the audience. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Professor Zhuang Liandong, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University, stated that his experience and observations of research and creation in the United States reveal a multicultural society characterized by mature civic consciousness and strong inclusiveness. International artists bring original cultural heritage and integrate local practices, enhancing artistic excellence. When new cultures are revived through artistic production, they gather a powerful force. While respecting the development of diverse cultures across nations, the United States is also fostering a more pronounced trend toward transnational, cross-domain, and cross-cultural exchange. This crucial spiritual and cultural expression also contributes to a more diverse and multifaceted art form, contributing to the improvement of artistic quality and a positive and broadening of international perspectives and horizons. Professor Li Zongren, drawing on his experience studying and creating in the United States from 1994 to 1995, explained the artistic advantages of basing his work on Eastern materials and the necessity and importance of artistry in cross-disciplinary collaboration and exchange.
The dialogue and exchange event between Taiwanese and American artists attracted enthusiastic participation from both the art community and the public, creating a lively atmosphere. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
Professor He Yaozhi pointed out that in cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary creative exchanges, artistic expressions based on Eastern ink painting or other materials still have a focusing effect. He observed the meaning expressed in different language forms in newspapers collected from 37 cities around the world. When art is integrated into a spatial environment, it is crucial to understand how to express Eastern connotations and how to present the characteristics of language and cross-culturality through lines and interfaces to achieve resonance. Professor Li Zongren also emphasized the crucial and far-reaching importance of the appropriate use of techniques, tools, and media in the process of cultural integration and artistic exchange between the East and the West.
Before the joint exhibition’s opening ceremony, artists and distinguished guests from all walks of life enthusiastically attended, expressing positive feedback and anticipation for the works of the American artists. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
The “NEW LA American Contemporary Artists Exchange Exhibition” will be on display at the Ooka Art Space from now until the 21st. The organizer will also hold an art creation workshop for three consecutive days starting from September 19th, inviting three contemporary artists from LA, USA, Olivia Obrecht, Nathan Kitright and Joseph Kowalcht to host the workshop. Taiwan’s emerging artists will also attend future events to express their creative experience and views. They are teachers Jin Qilong, Zhou Minghan, Lin Yingru and Mo Yuguo. The public is welcome to participate.
Taiwanese and American artists, along with renowned Taiwanese art scholars, who attended the joint exhibition and dialogue event in Los Angeles, happily took a group photo after the opening ceremony to commemorate this rare exhibition exchange event. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
This event, organized and hosted by Ooka Art Space, features an international art exchange program for Los Angeles artists, the Ooka International Residency Program, and an exhibition of contemporary American art. Ooka Art Space has long been committed to international art exchange and promotion, actively introducing outstanding international artists and their unique creations, allowing Taiwanese audiences to experience diverse cultures and the latest trends in world art. To foster deeper cultural dialogue and exchange, Ooka Art Space has established the “Ooka International Art Exchange Residency Program,” providing comfortable creative accommodation and a professional exhibition platform for international artists, allowing them to present their works to Taiwanese audiences in their fullest creative state. This international, cross-cultural artistic dialogue not only enriches the diversity of Taiwanese contemporary art but also enhances audiences’ international perspectives and cultural tolerance, injecting new inspiration and vitality into the Taiwanese art scene.
▲After the opening ceremony, during the networking session, artists from Taiwan and the US engaged in lively discussions on art topics with guests. (Photo by reporter Zhan Jiaqi)
