Liao Yuan-Yi (廖元溢), b. 1994 in Taipei, graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at the Taiwan University of Arts with a Bachelor's degree and later obtained a Master's degree from Kyoto University of Arts. Dedicated to his craft, the artist employs multi-material approaches in his practice. His work seeks to visualize the intricate connections between the self and the self, the self and others, and among others. These often unspoken or intangible bonds are transformed into visible forms through a process of introspection and creative reconstruction. His practice also reflects on the ways in which language, religion, and ethnicity shape individual experiences across different countries and regions. Each work becomes a response to his ongoing observations of cultural and social diversity, revealing a nuanced awareness of the world’s layered human narratives. Sketching serves as an essential method in his process—an iterative act of exploration, reflection, and refinement. Through the accumulation of these sketches, he gradually constructs his own worldview. Each finished piece stands as a concrete representation of his evolving inner landscape. The Draw the Nautical Chart series, in particular, records the emotional fluctuations that arise from interactions with others. These encounters are often layered with conflicting feelings—joy, unease, uncertainty—that resist easy articulation through language. In response, he presents these works in the form of visual diaries, offering an indirect yet intimate portrayal of his internal state.
To me, being "in-between" is a state of existing between an ending and a beginning. I created this series just before graduating from university, during a time when I felt myself entering a state of flux—change was approaching, yet the future remained unclear.
The curled, cocoon-like body suggests a defensive posture, but it also conveys a sense of confinement—like staying in a comfort zone for too long and feeling lost or powerless at the thought of leaving it.
The two figures face each other quietly—close, yet silent. They represent two voices within myself, engaged in a wordless dialogue during this period of transition. There is no need for a clear conclusion to their exchange. It simply exists, like the "in-between moments" we all experience: unstable, undefined, yet deeply real.