《FREE ADMISSION : TAIWAN FILM PUBLIC SCREENING》

FREE ADMISSION is the first public screening project presented by Open Island. The word “Free” means “freedom,” “free of charge,” and “open,” while “Admission” refers to the “fee for entry into a public space,” highlighting the thresholds and boundaries of power.
What does “freedom” mean in Taiwanese experience?
Taiwan’s historical and geopolitical fractures and its difficult-to-define identity have long been a source of vitality for cultural studies in Taiwan. Our freedom stems from departing from nationalistic consciousness towards global citizenship, from the rift between great powers, through collaboration with other islands, from the "Taiwaneseness" that grows under these spontaneous, diplomatic frameworks. The experiences of Taiwaneseness often appear in New York’s cultural and artistic landscape through theme-based exhibitions, entering and engaging with public discourse. As these representations bloom in different locations, we prospect to map out relationships between artists, artworks and local communities, to connect the scattered, themed Taiwanese experiences. This allows us to further reflect on how "Taiwaneseness" can be written, translated, and interpreted as a shared practice in "freedom."

CURATOR ｜ Open Island｜Justin Chi｜Tzu-Yun Wei｜Yi-Hsin Cheng

ARTIST ｜ Lu Chih Kai｜Jay Chieh-chun Lee｜Hsin Ying Tsai (Sweet Copolymer Production)

OCT. 2025 @ Thomas VanDyke Gallery, Brooklyn NY

JAY CHIEH-CHUN LEE

Jay Chieh-Chun Lee is a film creator from Taipei, Taiwan. His approach to art starts from his personal experience and the stories that surround him, with an aim to arrive at a broader social context. He believes that by narrating his own experiences and thoughts and making films that tell stories of people, he can understand how we perceive the relationship between self and the society and how we construct our point of views seeing this world. range of media such as video, installation, and graphics.

〈PLANTING MILLET〉

DOCUMENTARY｜5 MINS 29 SECS｜2019｜TAIWAN

One day, Apyang decided to go back to his hometown for farming.

LU CHIH KAI

Lu Chih Kai was born in 1993 in Taipei and grew up in Taoyuan. He is currently studying in a master’s program in New Media Arts at the Taipei National University of Arts. He mainly takes photographs, filming videos and making performance arts as well. Lu Chih Kai is often inspired by his personal memories. He observes and reflects with subversion on the functions of some daily spaces.

Lu Chih Kai was selected for Kaohsiung Award 2024 : Honorable Mention , the Proyector/Festival de Videoarte 2023 : Honorable Mention , and awarded with Next Art Tainan Award 2022, Yilan Art Award 2021 : Merit Award, and TNUA (Taipei National University of the Arts) Contemporary Art Prize 2021 : Honorable Mention. His works have been exhibited in Taiwan, Russia , Greece, Spain, Italy, and other places.

〈 THE DESCENDED MESSAGE 〉

DOCUMENTARY｜8 MINS 45 SECS｜2023｜TAIWAN

”The Descended Message“ is a project that begins with the descending ceremony of the Spiritual Spring at Madou Shuijuetou Historical Site 67 years ago. The traces emerged one after another as a verification of the faith transmission. Curious about how beliefs are perceived, the artist explored the collective memories behind the divine tales through interviews with locals and visualization of historical materials.

HSIN YING TSAI (SWEET COPOLYMER PRODUCTION)

Tsai Hsin-Ying was born in Pingtung and currently resides in Tainan, Taiwan. She is a freelance artist with a background in theater performance, using mediums such as visual, body, and action to explore themes like relationships, identity, gender, and the environment. In recent years, she has ventured beyond traditional theater spaces, creating small-scale performances integrated into everyday life.Tsai Hsin-Ying was awarded the Good Design Award 2023 in Japan and her works have been featured in both local and international exhibitions, including projects in Taiwan and beyond.

〈 HAI XI LI HEALTHY LIVING DANCE TROUPE 〉

DOCUMENTARY｜6 MINS 48 SECS｜2020｜TAIWAN

At 5 a.m., the quiet of the park in Haixi Li is gradually broken by the sounds of the Haixi Li Wellness Dance Group. The members, a lively mix of local uncles and aunts, begin their morning warm-up exercises. Each movement flows so naturally, as if their bodies have long memorized the rhythm. Four years ago, a short-term dance class initiated by the neighborhood chief sparked their interest, turning this daily gathering into an integral part of their lives. The market, their backyard, is where they know every vendor, every fresh vegetable, and every discount.

〈 MARKET AT 3 AM 〉

DOCUMENTARY｜5 MINS 55 SECS｜2020｜TAIWAN

This video documents Ah Hong, the owner of ”Ah Hong Coffee and Betel Nut,“ who offers a variety of goods such as coffee, betel nuts, energy drinks, and cigarettes to help truck drivers, forklift operators, wholesalers, and retail customers working through the night stay energized. Ah Hong starts brewing coffee at dawn and continues until noon, serving as the vital energy source that keeps the market running smoothly and plays an indispensable role in its operations.