Drawing Near 近鄉·回溯 investigates contrasting Taiwanese identities through a multidisciplinary visual arts practice. The project documents Chin-Jie Melodie Liu’s journey of understanding her own identity as a Taiwanese woman of mixed heritage (of waisheng 外省 and bensheng 本省) through reinterpreting objects and photographs. In examining archival material, Liu further seeks to reveal the layered narratives that co-exist in contemporary Taiwanese society.

The project is a result of Liu’s Bachelor of Visual Arts Honours thesis undertaken in 2020 which was created for presentation online.
︎︎︎ Discover the series


Drawing Near was exhibited at the Australian Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University (ANU) from 18 February—13 March 2021.

The exhibition was an initiative under the ANU Taiwan Studies Program — a partnership between the ANU and the Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan).

︎︎︎ Exhibition catalogue

Installation images: Matthias Wong.