While these artists observe and criticize politics on the side, Chang Chen-yu (
Chang Evergreen's Who Did It? (是誰做了它?) is a record of his picketing in front of the CKS Memorial Hall in 1990 in support of the re-election of the then national assembly. One year later, Chang ran for a seat in the national assembly on an artistic platform spelled out in the Election Posters (選舉藝術) series. Under headlines such as "Spiritual President Manifesto," Chang challenges the low priority of art and culture on Taiwanese politician's agenda.
The lifting of martial law after 40 years of censorship prompted many artists to apply their new-found freedom to dealing with political issues in their works. As this freedom risks being taken for granted, it's quite possible that the period this exhibition covers will someday be seen as the "golden age" of political art in Taiwan.
RSS