On the 11th, Taiwan's Embassy to the Holy See unveiled the contemporary art exhibition "Interconnected Hearts", organized by the Cultural Division of the Ministry of Culture's Representative Office in Italy. The exhibition interprets the profound meaning of religious faith through technological art, showcasing how Taiwanese art combines faith to convey universal values of truth, goodness, and beauty to a global audience.
The exhibition, curated by Italian curator Sita Spada, features works by Taiwanese artists Hung Yu-Hao, Huang Chien-Hua, and Huang Meng-Chin, presenting 14 AI-generated art pieces. The works respond to Pope Francis' call for using artificial intelligence (AI) to promote peace.
The artworks utilize digital technology as a medium, highlighting Taiwan's cultural characteristics and engaging in dialogue with diverse cultures. Hung Yu-Hao employs VR technology to recreate Taipei's temple and street scenes, blurring the lines between reality and illusion to explore urban memory and spiritual symbols. Huang Chien-Hua integrates AI, 3D printing, and AR technology to reconstruct Taiwan's collective memory and cultural identity, addressing humanity's deep need for collective identity. Huang Meng-Chin's multimedia soundscape creation, "Compound-Eyed City," reveals multiple layers of perception, challenging viewers' understanding of the body and reality.
The Embassy to the Holy See Exhibits Artist Huang Chien-Hua's Work "All Things Arise from the Multitude" (Photo: Taken from the Ministry of Culture Website)
The three artists also collaborated on a new piece, "Collective Convergence", which reinterprets Catholic symbols in a triptych format to emphasize the profound connection of the Holy Trinity. The work showcases the diverse applications of technology in contemporary culture and its integration with faith.
The Embassy to the Holy See Exhibits "Interconnected Bodies," a Collaborative Work Created Remotely by Three Taiwanese Artists (Photo: Taken from the Ministry of Culture Website)
Ambassador Matthew S.M. Lee to the Holy See emphasized that technological progress should uphold human dignity. He noted that Taiwan is actively advancing AI development and technological ethics to ensure that technology serves peace and positive values. The Cultural Division of the Representative Office in Italy stated that this exhibition not only aligns with the Ministry of Culture's cultural diplomacy initiatives but also highlights Taiwan's innovative thinking in applying technology and interpreting faith. It aims to foster cultural dialogue between Taiwan, Italy, and the Vatican in religion and the arts.
In recent years, Taiwan's Embassy to the Holy See has actively curated art exhibitions in its public spaces to promote cultural exchange with Italy and the Vatican. In 2023, the embassy celebrated Pope Francis' 10th anniversary with the "Five Loaves and Two Fish" exhibition, featuring works by artist Tseng Ying-Tung, which received positive acclaim. The exhibition later moved to Fu Jen Catholic University, extending its cultural impact. The current "Interconnected Hearts" exhibition further demonstrates Taiwan's creative vitality in multicultural expression, conveying the potential connection between technology and humanity to European audiences, and fostering deeper international understanding and exchange.
