Organized by the Taichung City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau and curated by Professor Chen Yi-Fan of National Changhua University of Education, the annual exhibition 2026 Young Voices – Outstanding Graduates Exhibition of Fine Arts Departments is now on view at Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center through June 10. Centered on the curatorial concept of “across universities, disciplines, and regions,” the exhibition brings together 185 emerging artists and 350 works from 16 departments across 13 universities throughout Taiwan.
At June 24’s opening ceremony, Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Chen Chia-Chun attended on behalf of Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen to present certificates of appreciation to participating schools and partnering galleries. She also expressed gratitude to Taichung contemporary artist Wu Mian-Jen and Hsieh Chun-Mei, Chairperson of the Taiwan International Art Association, for their generous sponsorship in helping create a stage where young artists can pursue their dreams.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that Young Voices has now entered its 13th year and has become an important platform for discovering promising young talent in Taiwan. Through collaboration among government, academia, and industry, this year ten selected artists will also participate in ART TAICHUNG. The Bureau further thanked local galleries for their long-term support of young creators, including Modern Art Gallery, Vanya Art Space, Song-Feng Gallery, and ARTAGE, which provide valuable opportunities for students to engage directly with the art market. Another highlight this year is that ART TAICHUNG will, for the first time, be held at the Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center rather than a hotel venue. The move to a larger-scale exhibition hall is expected to enhance the professionalism and visibility of young artists while expanding their international exposure.

Chief curator Professor Chen Yi-Fan shared that the exhibition was originally planned for Dadun Gallery 1 through 7, and thanked the Dadun Cultural Center for additionally providing Exhibition Rooms 1 and 2, enabling National Taipei University of the Arts and Tainan National University of the Arts to once again join the exhibition. He remarked that although the artistic journey is often long and challenging, Young Voices serves as a crucial starting point for many young creators. Seeing past participants gradually gain recognition in the art world, he said, demonstrates the lasting value of the platform in nurturing new talent.

This year’s exhibition features 350 works spanning painting, ink art, ceramics, sculpture, crafts, metalwork, fiber art, installation, mixed media, and digital new media, reflecting the creative vitality and contemporary perspectives of Taiwan’s emerging artists. Among the highlights is Residual Trace of Power by Huang Guan-Lian, a graduate student in the Department of Fine Arts at National Taichung University of Education, which reconstructs local history and everyday culture through the collective memory of Wanhua.

Chen Hsuan-Hsuan from the Department of Fine Arts at National Taipei University of the Arts presents Illusory Existence and N Coordinates, combining drawing on fabric with hand-stitching techniques to explore the subtle relationships among image, symbol, and material. Meanwhile, Seeking by Li Tzu-Ying of Tunghai University uses animal imagery as a metaphor for the emotional tension between desire and vulnerability, portraying the psychological state of longing and hesitation.

Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center emphasized that the exhibition is not only a presentation of graduation projects, but also a dialogue on life, society, and culture. Through diverse artistic media and perspectives, it brings contemporary art closer to the public while offering audiences the opportunity to support the next generation of Taiwanese artists. For more information, please visit the Dadun Cultural Center website: www.dadun.culture.taichung.gov.tw