Wu Chia Yun (Creative Practice ‘24) will present her first UK solo exhibition at Photo London, on view from May 14–17, 2026, with a preview on May 13 at The National Hall, Olympia, London. Wu will be presenting Mother-Land, a photography and mixed media project exploring Taiwan’s political isolation and questions of independence, identity, and territory.
"As a Taiwanese immigrant recently moved to the United States, the relationships between family, homeland, and the world have become my lifelong obsession. With snapshots of my separated parents, family, and landscapes, this project represents the sensation of alienation, exploring the contradictory state that exists between freedom and burden."
Mother-Land considers how politics and the outer world affect Taiwan, transforming the island to become a multiverse. Taiwan has been isolated from the world due to its political issues with China. Questions of independence, identity, and territory never have clear answers. Surrounded by the ocean, waves, and tears, where the image of water has become a symbol of fluidity, unsettlement, and confusion.
“I use snapshots of my separated parents, family, and landscapes to create a layered experience, portraying indescribable loneliness, as well as chaos that is hidden under peace. Through printmaking, drawing, and spray painting, I seek to deconstruct these liquid elements by reconstructing a solemn, while hopeful, map.”
Born in Taiwan, Wu Chia Yun is an artist and filmmaker based in New York City. She holds an MA in Visual Communication from the Royal College of Art in London and an MFA in Motion Picture from the National Taiwan University of Arts. Her work explores the human condition through film, photography, mixed media, and installation. Recent exhibitions include the Taipei Biennial, LUMA Arles, and Art Basel Hong Kong, as well as solo exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Wu is the recipient of the 2025 Dior Photography and Visual Artists Award for Young Talents.
The exhibition is presented by UP Gallery at The National Hall, Olympia, London, W14 8UX.
Image Credits: Wu Chia Yun
