"Mine is not a political statement, it's more of a historical and artistic statement. I don't think new Taiwan is about politics or relationships. It's spiritual.
"In Szechuan [China] they say, ‘I'm Szechuanese.' The same for Guandong and Shanghai. Our identity is not just a country, it's a place. That's why I have called the exhibition <>, it's where I was born and inspired."
Lin brought up the subject of his father, a scholar and photographer who lived in Taiwan during Japan's occupation of the island from 1895 to 1949. He said it was his father's death at the end of 2004 that inspired his new series of posters.
When he returned to Pingtung for Chinese New Year in 2005 he looked around his father's room and saw a big pot in the corner of the room which contained the evergreen plant devil's ivy (黃金葛). He drew it as though it was shaped like Taiwan. Following drawings were variations on the same theme.
"My father thought he was Japanese. He was Japanese educated and spoke Japanese. ... After 1949 there was a new Taiwan, a different culture and different thinking, borrowing from China."
At university, where he studied fine arts and design, Lin was influenced by Western art history and this was "a new window."
The 49-year-old said, "I was born in new Taiwan, which has the influence of China. As a teacher I have to find new elements to represent a new Taiwanese identity. This is a very interesting problem."
As for the relationship with China, which he has visited over 200 times since 1990 on business and education exchanges, Lin said he did not worry about the cross-Strait relationship.
"It's very difficult to find a solution now but this may not be so difficult in the future. It will be decided by culture, social and economic factors.
"Taiwanese now are influenced by a resurgent China, but we are respected. It's about interaction. For the new generation I think there will be a lot of sources as the world is globalized and the artist integrates these influences," Lin said.
“I'm a professor first. It's essential for us to consider the new generation. It's like the Olympic flame. My professor passed the torch on to me and I want to do the same. I would like to be seen as a light, so that students can find their own vision and progress."
What he tells his students is that to arrive at an artistic vision there are three staging points on the way. First, you must observe events and things. Then you should think about what you have seen and come up with an opinion or view.
"Finally, you've got to do it, communicate and present your idea, act it out or put it on paper," Lin said.
"This is what I say to my students but actually each new generation will come up with their own image of the map of Taiwan.
"Different people under different conditions have different ideas. An artist must feel the pulse and have an independent position. Why is this? Because you must have your own vision. I want people to love Taiwan, like I do. And that's why I hope my students have their own map of Taiwan in their hearts."
My Homeland by Apex Pang-Soong Lin is at the Eslite Bookstore on Dunhua and Renai roads, B2, 245, Dunhua S Rd, Sec 1, Taipei (誠品書局,台北市敦化南路一段245號B2樓), until Sept. 17. Entrance is free and opening hours are from 11am to 10pm.
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