“The Reflection of Nature,” the inaugural exhibition of the Public Gallery, features works by Hu Dar-Far and Kang Tian-wang, two artists profoundly inspired by the natural landscape of New Taipei City. Through an earnest gaze and quiet portrayal of nature, their art weaves the region’s mountains and rivers into scenes of everyday life. This dialogue between terrain and daily experience opens a vantage point between reality and perception, revealing two distinct yet kindred approaches to creative expression.
Hu Dar-far pioneered a nail-painting technique in which he cuts, pounds, and hammers recycled metal and nails to construct the local milieu and cityscape. At once a representation of the terrain and a reincarnation of discarded materials, his work is a layered narrative about the environment, local roots, and the memory of home. Kang Tian-Wang, by contrast, is deeply engaged with the depiction of mountains, rivers, and micro-ecologies. His imagery moves beyond straightforward representation, opening a dialogue with the natural world and distilling a philosophical state of mind from keen observation of nature’s rhythms over time.
Through their distinct visual languages, the two artists respond to the region’s shifting terrain: one constructs mountains and rivers through material manipulation, while the other renders sentient beings with lively brushwork. This exhibition not only brings the landscape vividly to life, but guides the viewer through layers of visual memory and sensory perception, inviting them to reconnect with nature’s many faces.
About The Public Gallery
To foreground New Taipei City’s eclectic creative energy and nurture an environment of artistic freedom, the New Taipei City Art Museum is launching the Public Gallery, a project that provides citizens with a platform to showcase their work. It invites participation from arts and cultural practitioners, encouraging projects that draw on local resources or foster community bonding. By facilitating the exchange of diverse creative perspectives, the Public Gallery seeks to broaden artistic expression and cultivate a dynamic, multifaceted scene.
Its open-call program begins at the end of 2025, setting the stage for a vibrant new chapter in artistic creation.
映於自然：胡達華、康添旺雙個展
The Reflection of Nature: HU Dar-Far & KANG Tian-Wang Duo Exhibition
｜Artists｜ HU Dar-far, KANG Tian-Wang
｜Supervisor｜ New Taipei City Government
｜Organizer｜ New Taipei City Art Museum