2022 National Day｜Cherishing Reunion

Cherishing Reunion | 2022 | Cheng Ruo-Han

2022 National Day Reception Main Visual Installation

This artwork portrays the beauty of people reconnecting and cherishing one another in the post-pandemic era.

The National Day Reception, held annually at the Taipei Guest House to welcome important international guests, was suspended due to the pandemic. This year, it finally brought everyone together again. I was honored to be invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create the main visual installation, inspired by the post-pandemic era.

I thought about what the pandemic has changed in the world. Amidst countless traumas and hardships, how can we follow the light of dawn and continue to move forward? I was reminded of a phrase I read as a child: “Pain passes, but beauty remains.”

And this beauty is what people have come to cherish even more. It is the priceless warmth of human connection, revisited and cherished anew. So, I set out to depict the simple joys of life that we once took for granted. By combining Taiwan's local identity with international exchange, we are once again able to revisit the joys of reunion on our life’s journey; to relive the growth from life’s experiences; to relive the sharing of honor; to relive the power of blessings; and, of course, to revisit the little moments of happiness in daily life.

The installation's form uses two offset semicircles to create a passageway. The semicircles also symbolize two hands clasping, representing the reunion of people and the restored communication between nations. As guests pass through this tunnel, they soar toward a higher and more hopeful future. The artwork, a visually permeable white form adorned with vibrant accents, is located at the entrance of the Taipei Guest House lobby, harmonizing with the historical space's extensive use of white, gold, and soft gauze. It is my hope that every guest who comes here can feel the joyful atmosphere of love and hope.

Artist Statement

In 2020, the pandemic mercilessly struck the globe, bringing an unprecedented disaster and immeasurable trauma to humanity. Yet, thanks to advances in medicine and global unity, we have moved step by step from closure to openness.

People can now reunite and revisit their former lives. This period of waiting and anticipation has made us more appreciative and grateful for all that we have.

Titled "Cherishing Reunion," this work portrays the beauty of people once again reconnecting and cherishing one another in the post-pandemic era.