20 Feb Discovery．Punk．Alchemy: The Transformation of Found Objects – Liou Shiuan Shi Solo Exhibition
Since the Industrial Revolution, the rapid advancement of technology has been widely celebrated, inspiring boundless idealistic visions of the future. Within this historical context, not only have the interactions between humans and machines become increasingly intimate, but artists have also been inspired to create works using a variety of media and themes. Viewed through the lens of art history, this phenomenon is perhaps most emblematic of the early 20th-century Futurism movement. In their manifestos, the Futurists praised machines such as trains, ships, and airplanes, placed special emphasis on the sensation of speed, and incorporated these ideas into the visual language of their paintings. As the integration of machinery and art progressed, traditional boundaries between visual arts—such as painting, sculpture, and architecture—began to dissolve. Machines were embraced within the aesthetic domain, emerging as a zeitgeist and cultural signature. In recent years, this fusion of technology and art has become increasingly diverse.
Liou Shiuan Shi, known for the “Baina Studio” that rose to online fame and later garnered significant attention at various art festivals and fairs, exemplifies this trend. Her work utilizes mechanical metal components as both material and power source, deconstructing and reassembling them to breathe new life into what were once antique remnants. Unlike the simple glorification of the future, Liou—who has a strong interest in history—is particularly fascinated by the transitional era between steam and electricity. Her works often reflect the material culture of that time, striving to revive its distinctive spirit. Favoring vintage steam and military equipment, she sources rare antique parts from Europe, the United States, and Russia. The aesthetic of her works, a fusion of machinery and retro elements with sound and light effects powered by electric currents, has made her a rising star in the art world with a highly recognizable style.
Liou Shiuan Shi hails from Pingtung, a region in southern Taiwan surrounded by azure seas. This pure, unpolluted environment has instilled in her a deep respect for nature and a commitment to environmental sustainability. Making the most of available materials has become both a theme and hallmark of her work. Equipped with professional mechanical knowledge, she has engaged with a wide range of crafts—woodworking, electronics, auto repair, metalwork and painting, plumbing, and electrical systems—using her skills and expertise to explore and practice art. Through working with diverse materials, she continually questions the very essence of art.
It has been over two years since Liou Shiuan Shi made her formal debut at the 2019 Tainan Art Festival, “It’s SHOW Time.” Since then, she has continued to cultivate her craft, consistently presenting new works, culminating in her first solo exhibition at the start of the new year. This exhibition continues to reflect her foundational principles and creative philosophy, yet the conceptual and categorical structure of her series reveals her ambitious vision. She divides her works into distinct periods—the Machine Age, the Electric Age, the World War II Era, and the Space Age—exploring the material culture of each through retro visual objects while also attempting to capture the spirit of the present era.
Unlike traditional academic training in art history, Liou draws on her mechanical knowledge and post-Industrial Revolution materials to explore and realize her visions of kinetic energy and optoelectronics. Through the historical traces left on her objects, she extends the memory of time, uncovering a new aesthetic of visual culture through a unique lens of historical segmentation, aesthetic systemization, and interpretation. In doing so, she achieves a delicate balance between retro machinery and futuristic technology, establishing a distinct artistic language and irreplaceable creative identity.
Discovery．Punk．Alchemy: The Transformation of Found Objects — Liou Shiuan Shi Solo Exhibition
Exhibition Dates｜February 20 (Sat) – March 21 (Sun)
Artist Talk｜February 20, 14:00–15:00 (The talk will be simultaneously broadcast on Clubhouse)
Speakers｜Kuo Lin Lan, Director of Daguan Gallery; Artist Lo Chan Peng; Emerging Artist Liou Shiuan Shi
Artist Tour & Opening Tea Reception｜15:00