Liao Yuan-Yi, born in Taipei, graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Taiwan University of Arts with a Bachelor's degree and obtained a Master's degree from Kyoto University of Arts. His work focuses on communication and loneliness among people. Whether it's the difficulties or happiness in communication with others, there's always a certain sense of loneliness in his works. The artist admits that he doesn't fully understand the source of this loneliness. He shapes the images in his works by transforming surroundings from real life and utilizes various forms such as embroidery, painting, and collage to express personal experiences and emotions.
During his university years, he used wood carving to express a sense of loneliness, which became the foundation of his art practice. After entering a research institute in Japan, he began using embroidery as a medium for his creations. During his study abroad, he transformed his works into diary-like forms, while also developing a series of small-scale embroidery pieces. In the unfamiliar environment abroad, language barriers led him to focus on observations of interpersonal relationships, communication, and interaction through these works, which evoke emotions such as loneliness, solitude, amusement, and scarcity. Particularly in the "Draw The Nautical Chart" series, these works depict the inner contemplations following personal experiences and interactions with others.
In this exhibition, "In Here Somewhere," explores individuals' search for their place within various relationships, as well as their quest for refuge. This refuge could be a small room, a cellar, a burrow, or any place that offers a sense of security and inner peace. Through the use of materials, imagined objects, and textures, the artist communicates indescribable emotions through embroidery, allowing viewers to connect with this "Somewhere" and feel a sense of stability and comfort. The exhibition also encourages viewers to ponder the psychological states that emerge from interactions with others, including the delicate balance between one's own identity, relationships with others, and the dynamics among them.