The Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) has revealed its much-anticipated 2025 program, featuring an extensive lineup of exhibitions and events. These include a research showcase of the museum’s collection, two major solo exhibitions by globally acclaimed artists, six solo exhibitions by Taiwanese talents spanning generations, a contemporary image exhibition, and the grand finale—the 14th Taipei Biennial. The museum also plans to expand its innovative programming to enhance interdisciplinary practices and sustainability.
New Initiatives and Sustainability Efforts
In 2025, TFAM will inaugurate a state-of-the-art collection vault designed with independent sections to maintain optimal temperature and humidity for preserving various artworks. This facility also includes restoration rooms and preparatory spaces, highlighting the museum’s commitment to the preservation and study of art.
A special exhibition will spotlight Ni Chiang-Huai (1894–1943), one of Taiwan’s earliest watercolorists and a student of Ishikawa Kinichiro, who introduced British watercolor techniques to the island. The showcase will feature significant works and archival materials donated by Ni’s family, many of which are being displayed for the first time.
TFAM continues to champion sustainability with its 12th “Program X-site.” The winning project, The Pore Landscape Project by Surface Studio, integrates recycled materials constituting nearly 25% of the installation’s weight, including eco-yarn textiles crafted from recycled plastic bottles. Once dismantled, half of the installation’s materials will be reused, reinforcing eco-friendly practices. TFAM’s “REUSE” initiative will further transform leftover exhibition and promotional materials into artistic products and public furniture.
International and Taiwanese Artist Exhibitions
TFAM will host two major international exhibitions:
- Thomas Demand: The Stutter of History explores cultural narratives through large-scale photographs derived from meticulously crafted paper models of significant events.
- Olafur Eliasson: Your Curious Journey invites viewers to engage with natural elements and light, fostering reflections on perception and cultural influences.
The museum will also present six solo exhibitions by Taiwanese artists. Highlights include:
- Kuroshio: Jun T. Lai Retrospective, showcasing over 100 works across decades, blending abstract color studies and nature-inspired pieces.
- Lili Deli by Steph Huang, examining capitalism’s impact on consumer culture through a multimedia installation.
Other exhibitions delve into themes like trauma, material exploration, and historical influences on contemporary art.
14th Taipei Biennial and Contemporary Image Exhibition
Curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, the 14th Taipei Biennial will explore Taiwan’s intricate history, connecting personal memories to collective consciousness through exhibitions, performances, and forums.
Theater of the Times: Contemporary Images and Their Many Interpretations, curated by Sharleen Yu, investigates the evolution of photography, blending analog and digital approaches to reflect daily life and social practices. Featuring international talents like Hiroshi Sugimoto, the exhibition offers fresh perspectives on visual storytelling.
An Open Ending: TFAM Screening Project
2025.01.01–2025.09.28 [Basement Gallery F]
The Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) has reimagined its underground gallery space, converting the traditional “white cube” into an innovative art cinema. The concept of an “open ending” reflects a narrative without definitive closure, inviting viewers to interpret the story’s trajectory. Rather than delivering pre-determined conclusions, this approach fosters a dynamic dialogue between the creator and the audience.
Through interdisciplinary curation, TFAM will host a series of “mini-film festivals,” showcasing a diverse selection of rarely seen single-channel video works, including experimental films, animated shorts, documentaries, and video art. These works delve into contemporary issues and explore unconventional cinematic techniques, expanding on the idea of “open endings” by presenting varied themes and film combinations. The project encourages audiences to form personal interpretations, dismantles traditional cinematic norms, and pays homage to alternative film movements, challenging the boundaries of art itself.
Thomas Demand: The Stutter of History
2025.01.18–2025.05.11 [1F Gallery 1A & 1B]
Munich-born artist Thomas Demand (b. 1964) is renowned for his large-scale photography. Initially using photography to document his sculptures, Demand transitioned to using it as a primary medium in 1993. Drawing from historical or social events, he meticulously crafts life-sized paper models, recreates significant scenes, and captures them through precise photography. Afterward, the models are destroyed, leaving behind only the photographic representations.
This exhibition presents approximately 70 works spanning Demand’s four major series. Visitors can explore his exploration of the tension between photographic images and reality, as well as his critique of image culture’s cognitive paradoxes in contemporary society.
Lili Deli: Solo Exhibition by Steph Huang
2025.03.29–2025.06.22 [Basement Gallery E]
Opening this spring, “Lili Deli” by Steph Huang, the 2022 Taipei Art Awards Grand Prize winner, critiques modern consumption habits. The exhibition showcases unconventional items such as oxidizing metals, fragile glass, and recycled materials, questioning the values of convenience and affordability.
Through various media, “Lili Deli” dissects the influence of capitalism on dietary and lifestyle choices. It encourages audiences to reflect on the meaning of “freebies” and consumer excess while blending nostalgia with contemporary commentary on societal norms.
Kuroshio: Jun T. Lai Retrospective (Working Title)
2025.03.01–2025.05.25 [2F Gallery 2A & 2B; Sculpture Atrium 102]
Jun T. Lai (b. 1953), an acclaimed Taiwanese artist, explores the interplay of color and form in her works. This retrospective, guest-curated by Chang Ching-Wen, spans Lai’s career from the 1980s to today, featuring nearly 100 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, installations, and videos.
“Kuroshio” symbolizes the dynamic and consistent qualities of her art, reflecting Lai’s deep connection to nature and her innovative approach to public art projects.
Theater of the Times: Contemporary Images and Their Many Interpretations
2025.03.29–2025.07.13 [3F Gallery 3A & 3B]
Curated by Sharleen Yu, this exhibition investigates the evolution of image production from analog to digital, examining the shifting roles of photographers and image-makers. Contemporary photographers challenge the fast-paced nature of traditional reportage by adopting slower, more contemplative methods.
The exhibition, divided into three subtopics—”Invisible Subjects,” “Transformation and Rebirth,” and “Visual Landscape”—features works from 17 artists, exploring themes of daily life, societal practices, and cultural reflections.
Ni Chiang-Huai Memorial Exhibition
2025.06.26–2025.09.28 [2F Gallery 2A & 2B]
Ni Chiang-Huai (1894–1943), a pioneer of Taiwanese watercolor art, dedicated his life to promoting art education and fostering artistic talent. This memorial exhibition, drawing from the Ni family’s archives, showcases his extensive collection of watercolors, sketches, and artworks, many of which have never been publicly displayed.
Olafur Eliasson: Your Curious Journey
2025.06.21–2025.09.21 [1F Gallery 1A & 1B]
This Southeast Asian touring exhibition features Olafur Eliasson’s 30-year artistic journey, blending natural elements, light, and movement in installations, paintings, and videos. “Your Curious Journey” encourages viewers to engage deeply, rethinking perception and their relationship with the world.
TFAM Net.Open (Physical Program) | The Sound of Sinking
2025.07.26–2025.10.05 [Basement Gallery E]
Hsu Chia-Wei’s “The Sound of Sinking” explores underwater archaeology and archaeoacoustics, focusing on shipwrecks in the Penghu area. The multi-channel video installations, sound performances, and mixed reality experiences immerse audiences in a narrative that intertwines physical and virtual realms.
TFAM Solo Exhibitions: Lee Tzu-Tung, Ko Liang-Chih, Hsu Jui-Chien, Peng Hung-Chih
2025.08.09–2025.11.02 [3F Gallery 3A & 3B]
This series of solo exhibitions delves into diverse themes, from minority narratives and experimental calligraphy to material capabilities and spiritual dialogues. Each artist presents unique perspectives, challenging viewers to engage with their works on a deeper, more introspective level.
