Drawing Near investigates contrasting Taiwanese identities through a multidisciplinary visual arts practice. The series documents artist Chin-Jie Melodie Liu’s journey of understanding her own identity as a Taiwanese woman of mixed heritage (of waisheng 外省 and bensheng 本省) through reinterpreting objects and photographs. In examining archival material, Liu further seeks to reveal the layered narratives that co-exist in contemporary Taiwanese society.

The exhibition is a presentation of Liu’s Bachelor of Visual Arts Honours (2020) thesis. The project was accompanied with an exegesis titled “Intergenerational narratives of Taiwan: Tracing contemporary identity through photographs and objects”. The series was awarded the 2020 ANU School of Art & Design Emerging Arts Support Scheme (EASS) Megalo Print Studio & Gallery Residency Award, Country to Coast Residency and Exhibition Award, Gallery of Small Things Exhibition Award, EASS Patrons Honours Scholarship, and the Gray Smith and Joan Scott Prize.

About the Artist

Chin-Jie Melodie Liu 劉沁潔 is an emerging Taiwanese artist based in Canberra, Australia. In 2020, Liu completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts with First Class Honours under Printmedia & Drawing at the Australian National University (ANU). Liu is currently pursuing a Master of Museum and Heritage Studies at ANU.

Through the School of Art & Design exchange program, Liu studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris, France, and was the recipient of the 2019 Westende Travel Grant. Liu also holds a Bachelor of Arts from ANU with a major in French Culture and Language and a minor in International Relations.

Guided tours:

11-11:30am, 19 February register
2-2:30pm, 27 February register
2-2:30pm, 13 March register

Registration is required due to COVID-19 social distancing measures.

Opening times:

Weekdays, 9am-5pm
Saturdays 27 February & 13 March, 10am-3pm


Drawing Near is an initiative under the ANU Taiwan Studies Program — a partnership between the ANU and the Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan).


Drawing Near exhibition is also available online.

Download Drawing Near exhibition catalogue.