The exhibit “NEXUS-Video and New Media Art from the Caribbean” will debut at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in Taipei on May 6, and runs until July 16, 2023. This exhibition is the first of its kind in Taiwan to highlight the history and global issues faced by many countries in the Caribbean. These include transnational labor, immigration, climate change, identity, and politics, many of which Taiwan is also grappling with. Through the exhibit, MoCA Taipei hopes to connect and spark more dialogue and understanding between Taiwan and the Caribbean.
NEXUS is led by Dutch curator Sasha Dees, who has spent many years researching issues related to Caribbean countries. The exhibit features six pieces of artwork from seven Caribbean artists, including two from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Haiti.
Dees says the exhibit invites visitors to reflect on how colonialism, imperialism, and globalization have influenced the current state of the world, and how different nations are similar in their struggles and opportunities. Dees says she cannot disregard how Dutch colonization has impacted global politics, including in Taiwan. Dees also touches on the history during the Communist civil war, where some residents of Guangdong and Fujian were forced to relocate to Trinidad. These are the kinds of links between Asia and the Caribbean that Dees is hoping to highlight in her exhibit.
Dees says one key criteria in selecting artists for NEXUS was the potential relevance their work could bring to the Taiwanese audience, especially on issues related to colonization, transnational labor, and sovereignty. She hopes to create an entry point for Taiwanese viewers to push beyond the stereotypical images they may have of the Caribbean, and reflect on Taiwan’s unique position in global geopolitics.
NEXUS features several works which may shock viewers. For example, in Mes Rêves/My Dreams, Haitian artist Maksaens Denis uses the juxtaposition of Classical Music with sounds of gunshots as a means to reflect on violence, oppression, and greed.
Dees says that her understanding of Taiwan is still fairly limited, and she welcomes questions and critiques on her curatorial approach.
MoCA Director Loh Li-Chen (駱麗真) says she hopes the exhibit brings Taiwan and the Caribbean closer, and encourages the people of Taiwan to reflect on how these two seemingly different places are faced with similar challenges.