Taitung’s Jinzun is renowned for its international surfing championships, but beyond the thrill of catching waves, visitors to the Art Center can ride a different kind of wave — one of the soul. Within this tranquil sanctuary, one can gaze at the Pacific beyond the Serenity Pond or find stillness in contemplation before Paul Chiang’s paintings — a serene haven for the heart.

Pianist Mei-Chun Chou likens our inner selves to a "multi-voiced orchestra." At the Art Center, anyone can rediscover their voice and find their inner "conductor," allowing different sections of the soul to listen to one another and harmonize.

Since May 2025, the Art Center has hosted monthly salon concerts to facilitate this unique resonance between art and music, inviting audiences to experience art up close, in all its dimensions. 

 

At the Art Center, the landscape is shaped not only by the sea but by the 84 volunteers who serve as a vital bridge between the public and art. Hailing from across Taiwan and beyond, these individuals have turned the Art Center into a "second home," each weaving their own life stories into the spirit of the space.

For many, the journey here is an act of healing. One volunteer drives across half the island every month with a recovering family member, transforming her service shifts into a restorative journey through the mountains and along the sea. Others, like two sisters living in different cities, treat their shifts as a cherished reunion — reconnecting with each other while guiding visitors through the galleries.
 
The heart of the Art Center is further strengthened by local educators and cultural veterans whose deep roots help visitors see Taitung as a "living museum." Even those facing long, multi-stage commutes from remote areas arrive with tireless enthusiasm, driven by a simple desire to connect people with art. Though life’s transitions may occasionally lead some to step away, the warmth they leave behind endures — and we continue to welcome all who wish to join this growing community. (Chinese-language page)

 

The current exhibition at the Art Center, In the Garden of Light & Sketches from Europe, showcases Paul Chiang’s works from Taitung, Paris, and Lisbon. Chiang has never been one to travel for leisure; regardless of his location, he must work. Last summer, finding Paris too crowded with tourists, he retreated to Lisbon. There, he rented a studio and kept his disciplined routine, working each day before unwinding to a local cafe.

Some of the black-and-white pieces in his Sketches from Europe series are inspired by Lisbon’s architecture — modern yet rich in traditional character. Chiang’s minimalistic approach in these sketches recalls the minimalism of his early years in New York, a style he has favored since his youth. Chiang notes that his lifelong experience working across various media has added greater depth to these simple forms over time.

Perhaps this elusive quality is what Chiang often describes as the “human touch” — a texture truly felt only when standing before the original works. In the Garden of Light & Sketches from Europe is on display through August 31.

 

The Paul Chiang Arts & Cultural Foundation brings art into daily life through aesthetic education and corporate collaboration. Recently, the Art Center partnered with Wistron for a family day, hosting stencil workshops for over 100 employees and their families, ranging in age from 5 to 70.

The day began with an "Observation Game." Participants received small cards featuring Paul Chiang’s works and had to find partners holding the same piece — without showing their cards or naming the painting. By describing only colors, light, and emotions, they practiced the art of seeing and listening rather than relying on technical jargon.

Following a guided tour of the exhibition, which explored Chiang’s journey through light and abstraction, the afternoon shifted to a hands-on stencil workshop. Inspired by the geometric layers in his On Wings of Song series, participants used stamps and ink to design their own canvas bags. It was a day of transforming abstract inspiration into a tangible piece of "beauty" to take home. [More Outreach Photos]

 

On April 18, 82-year-old violinist Vesselin Paraschkevov and pianist Angela Huang performed before 150 guests amid the masterpieces of the Art Center. Paraschkevov chose Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D Minor, a poignant tribute to the artistic spirit Paul Chiang has pursued throughout his life. As the resonant "Chaconne" filled the hall, the master’s vigorous playing intertwined with Huang's delicate touch, deeply moving everyone in the room.

The resonance continues on May 23 with the "Memory" String Quartet. Violinists Nai-Yuan Hu and Hsuan-Hao Hsu, violist Shih-Hsien Tsai, and cellist Saimon Thompson will explore two beloved classics: Schubert’s Quartettsatz in C Minor, D 703 and Shostakovich’s Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110, drawing out themes of longing, loss, and deep introspection.

Looking ahead, pianist Mei-Chun Chou has curated a series of salon concerts from June to August. These four performances will weave together voice, violin, piano, and traditional Paiwan chants, inviting audiences into a midsummer where art and life resonate as one. [See Upcoming Salon Concerts]