Ya-Ting Kao: The Folds of Time
July 24 – September 26, 2026
Nunu Fine Art is pleased to announce the opening of The Folds of Time, a solo exhibition by Taiwanese artist Ya-Ting Kao (b. 1981), on July 24, 2026, at Nunu Fine Art Taipei.
Centered around flowers that have begun to wither, this exhibition delves deeply into the symbiotic relationship between "artistic creation" and "time," seeking to capture the eternity of time’s presence within the dynamic progression of decay.
Departing from the traditional aesthetic gaze that focuses on the "peak of full bloom," Kao shifts her focus in this exhibition toward "faded flowers", those that have fallen, dried, and shriveled. For the artist, this focus stems from her profound reflections on the evolution of life in recent years, as she describes in her own words:
"In the past, when I looked at flowers, I looked at them at their most beautiful moment. But now, I find it much more interesting when the petals have half fallen, or when they have dried and shriveled. To me, withering is not the end; rather, it is as if time has 'folded' the entirety of the flower's life into the creases of its petals. The slight withering and drying of life's state is where the true realization of constancy lies."
This gaze upon "imperfection and desolation" further deepens into the aesthetic core of the exhibition. In contrast to a fleeting blossom, the posture displayed by life when it is slightly withered and dried offers a realization of constancy that is much closer to its true essence. Through her works, the artist congeals the fluidity of time, capturing its lingering eternity within the dynamic process of decay, thereby blurring the boundary between the ephemeral and the primordial.
As an extension of her existing artistic practice, Ya-Ting Kao presents a series of exquisite works on paper in this solo exhibition. Utilizing the rich, intense, and sensory thickness of oil pastel on paper, complemented by the delicate nuances of watercolor and ink on paper as they flow, permeate, and overlap in layers, she subtly intertwines the unique characteristics of the mediums with the passage of time, constructing a visual narrative of personal experience and life's transitions. In these newly developed works, the fluid movement and congealing of the mediums themselves echo the constant posture displayed by the plants under the baptism of time.
The Taiwanese artist Ya-Ting Kao will attend the exhibition in person. The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, July 24, where the artist will be present to share in-depth insights into her creative journey and the underlying philosophy behind her work.