Meeting – Qalima #3: 星光之下：台灣高原 | Written among the Stars: Visualisations of Taiwan High Country (21 Oct 2025)

The third Qalima meeting happened in October. Etan Creative Vision Art Studio grounded the discussion with a curatorial introduction of contemporary Indigenous practices and presentations of recent artwork by Etan Pavavalung, Jhuwan Yeh and ljalje’elan patadalj. Speaking across the spectrum of engagement with contemporary Indigenous life in Taiwan, our discussions revealed our desires to engage as artists across national spaces, and urgent questions on how to engage with community today.

To think about Taiwan High Country is to consider the rooted legacies of migration from the mainland. World-acclaimed Taiwanese oolong was introduced and cultivated by these later settlers in the highlands, introducing industry and outcompeting native varietals to these places. As Paiwan filmmaker ljalje’elan patadalj places his figures in contemporary landscape, Han artist Jhuwan Yeh paints the visions of land evoked by aromatics and installs them in a tearoom in Taipei city. No labels, very little speech and text. In Naarm/Australia where I have been living, I think about the call to remember and acknowledge Country. These visual strategies that demonstrate, rather than label, prompt my reflection.

Qadjai site here.