Teh-Hsuan (Momo) Chen

This is a series of textiles exploring the paradoxical and absurd situation of Taiwanese people coping with the long-standing ambivalence of the international community toward our homeland. Taiwan, a strategic location of international importance, occupies an ambiguous position in relation to the world. The mainstream media often uses the term “self-governing democratic island” to describe us, which reflects the fact that Western regimes want to support Taiwan’s hard-earned democracy but are afraid of causing a diplomatic crisis or even provoking war. The country is not permitted to participate in international sports events as the Republic of China or Taiwan but must use awkward names such as Chinese Taipei. In addition, the unresolved contradictions between islanders and mainlanders in Taiwan have weakened Taiwan's defenses against cognitive warfare. As a Taiwanese from a mainlander family, I am always influenced by Taiwan's “strategic ambiguity.” Like many other Generation Z Taiwanese with a mainlander background, I must always take care not to upset my family or friends with what I say. In my collection, I combine the typical categories of tufted, woven, and knitted and crocheted textiles, to suggest the impossibility of categorizing Taiwan using the traditional rules of the global political game. If the rules are broken and Taiwan receives a definitive designation, will we become a normal nation or simply disappear?