SUAVEART is honored to showcase the work of Taiwanese artist Wu Chuan-Lun at SWAB Barcelona 2024. Wu’s practice reflects a deep engagement with the intersections between nature and industry, culture and ecology, as well as tradition and modernity. In his latest body of work, he invites the audience to explore Taiwan’s unique visual landscape through the repurposing of everyday objects, specifically addressing the tension between industrialization and agricultural communities.

Artwork: JTC Wu’s featured piece at SWAB is centered around an object frequently seen in his local neighborhood in Taiwan: plant pots fashioned from modified polydrum containers. These industrial blue, plastic containers—originally used in factories for storing raw materials, waste, and lube oil—are repurposed into plant pots by local residents. Their color and dull texture create a sharp contrast against the usual red and ceramic hues of traditional pots.

This practice embodies both a functional reuse and an aesthetic alternative, reflecting a long-standing cultural virtue of minimizing waste. In Taiwan, the boundary between industry and agriculture often blurs, with factories and neighborhoods growing side by side. Wu highlights how, by way of local ingenuity, these containers have been integrated into daily life, transcending their industrial origins to become a symbol of resourcefulness and adaptation.

His work examines the relationship between materials, spaces, and histories, specifically the repurposing of discarded industrial objects, underscoring the complex coexistence of these elements in contemporary Taiwan. The pot is not merely a recycled object, but a reflection of the socio-political landscape that has shaped Taiwan’s development.

Artist Biography: Wu Chuan-Lun Born in Tainan, Taiwan, Wu Chuan-Lun’s artistic journey has been shaped by the shifting dynamics between nature and civilization, as well as the intricate ties between ecology, politics, and technology. His works investigate the relationships between the natural and industrial worlds, often using the act of collecting and gathering as a starting point. From these collected objects, Wu unravels the tangled historical, social, and political context embedded within each item.

Wu’s artistic practice highlights the contradictions and compromises that define contemporary life. His work has been exhibited in prestigious venues and institutions, including the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Gwangju Museum of Art, and the Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin. He has also participated in major international exhibitions such as the Taipei Biennial, the Formosa Sculpture Biennial, and the Daegu Photo Biennial.

By examining Taiwan’s industrial and agricultural confluence, Wu’s art delves into how local communities navigate their environment and repurpose materials. His ongoing work draws attention to the significance of objects that may otherwise go unnoticed, offering a nuanced reflection on Taiwan’s unique social fabric and environmental challenges.

Through this collaboration with Wu Chuan-Lun, SUAVEART furthers its mission to foster cross-cultural exchanges by bringing underrepresented voices into the global conversation. Wu’s work at SWAB 2024 is a powerful testament to the resilience of local wisdom and an inquiry into the evolving relationships between humans, nature, and industry.

Event Details:
Booth: V6
Location: Textile Pavilion.
Fira de Barcelona, ​​Avenida Rius i Taulets, 10, 08004 Barcelona

Fair Schedule

Thursday 3 October
4pm – 9pm (only with invitation)

Friday 4 October
4pm – 9pm

Saturday 5 October
12pm – 9pm

Sunday 6 October
12pm – 8pm