Winnie (Wei-Yin) Wang

Advertising mirrors and stickers are often seen in old apartment buildings in Taiwan, commonly used to promote detective agencies and services such as locksmiths and moving companies.

Passersby often take selfies in the mirror, and the audience is invited to do the same. By reimagining the mirror as an agency that addresses “identity issues,” the work transforms its reflective surface into a site of questioning, inviting viewers to consider their own position in relation to Taiwan.

Here, recontextualisation operates through a bilingual setting. The mirror creates a threshold that draws viewers into Taiwanese living spaces, while the flyers and stickers offer additional perspectives on the tension between identifying as the Republic of China and identifying as Taiwanese.

So…what is a Taiwanese?

Tâi-uân Gín-á is a publication of interviews with my generation of Taiwanese people, often described as the “Naturally Independent” generation—those born after 1980 who identify as Taiwanese and see Taiwan as a sovereign state. Through personal perspectives, it explores what Taiwan means to different individuals and how understandings of sovereignty have shifted across generations.

Hand-sewn using Coptic binding, the publication reflects the strong sense of connection within Taiwanese communities, with the exposed stitching acting as a metaphor for the bonds formed through shared experiences and collective identity.

Rich in cultural visual references, the publication incorporates Taiwanese streetscapes, protest signage, and everyday imagery to deepen engagement with the content. These elements inherently reflect on how identities are embedded within Taiwan’s visual culture.