mother-land

PHOTOGRAPHY

Feb 23

In mother-land, artist Chia Yun Wu reflects on Taiwan’s political isolation through the intimate lens of migration and family separation. Layering personal photographs with evocative landscapes, Wu creates a parallel world shaped by memory, distance, and uncertainty. Through printmaking and drawing, the project maps a fragile space between belonging and alienation, where fluid borders and shifting identities reveal both quiet tension and enduring hope.

Photography Wu Chia Yun

‘mother-land’ explores how politics and the outer world affect Taiwan, transforming the island to become a parallel universe. As an immigrant recently moved to a foreign land, the relationships between family, homeland, and the world have become my lifelong obsession. I use snapshots of my separated parents, family, and landscapes to create a layered experience, portraying indescribable isolation, as well as chaos that is hidden under peace. This project represents the sensation of alienation, evoking the contradictory state that exists between freedom and burden.

“Taiwan has been isolated from the world due to its political issues with China. Questions of independence, identity and territory never have clear answers.”

Taiwan has been isolated from the world due to its political issues with China. Questions of independence, identity and territory never have clear answers. This lonely island is surrounded by the ocean, waves and tears. To the people who are waiting to be recognised as an independent nation, the image of water has become a symbol of fluidity, unsettlement and confusion. Through printmaking, drawing and spray painting, I seek to deconstruct these liquid elements by reconstructing a solemn, while hopeful, map.

About WU Chia Yun

Born in Taiwan, WU Chia Yun 吳家昀 is an artist and filmmaker based in New York City. She holds an MA in Visual Communication from the Royal College of Art (UK) and an MFA in Motion Picture from the National Taiwan University of Arts (TW).

Her works have been internationally exhibited at Art Basel (HK), LUMA Arles (FR), Institute of Contemporary Arts (UK), Royal Scottish Academy (UK), National Museum of Contemporary Art (PT) and more; Solo exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art (TW) and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (TW). She has participated in artist residencies granted by Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CA) and Lithuanian Photographers Association (LT); Recipient of the Director’s Fellowship from the International Center of Photography (USA); Laureate of Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award (FR).

To see more of her work, visit her website or follow her on Instagram

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In mother-land, artist Chia Yun Wu reflects on Taiwan’s political isolation through the intimate lens of migration and family separation. Layering personal photographs with evocative landscapes, Wu creates a parallel world shaped by memory, distance, and uncertainty. Through printmaking and drawing, the project maps a fragile space between belonging and alienation, where fluid borders and shifting identities reveal both quiet tension and enduring hope.

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mother-land

“Taiwan has been isolated from the world due to its political issues with China. Questions of independence, identity and territory never have clear answers.”

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Innerland