WORKS | Deng Wen Jen

臺灣藝術家鄧文貞運用纖維創作已經超過二十年，她的作品積極呈現臺灣過去文化殖民歷史、臺灣常民與飲食文化。

鄧文貞的纖維藝術創作超越了上個世紀第一波與第二波女性主義顛覆父權的搖旗吶喊，鄧文貞的藝術創作常以極具童趣的風格，反芻自身具臺灣原住民血統的文化，並轉譯臺灣過去複雜的殖民歷史與文化特質，並賦予纖維藝術創作一種深刻的文化省思意識。

策展論述｜陳明惠
國立成功大學創意產業設計研究所教授

About the Exhibition

The exhibition title,‘Wen-Jen Deng: The Embedded Stitch-Contemporary Fiber Art from Taiwan’, is inspired by the influential work, The Subversive Stitch, originally published in 1984 by the renowned British art historian Rozsika Parker. Her book outlines the history of, and the relationship between, women and embroidery, which is usually seen as domestic, feminine and passive.

The Taiwanese artist, Wen-Jen Deng, has been utilizing embroidery and textiles in her art creation for more than twenty years, and has been creating a body of impressive and unique works which visualize the diversity and hybridity of contemporary Taiwanese culture.

The exhibition, ‘The Embedded Stitch’, exhibits a selection of her fiber artworks which do not deal directly with the concepts of feminism, but rather depict her identity and how this is related to indigenous Taiwanese tribal culture, and the complex colonial history of Taiwan.

Curatorial Perspective –Luchia Meihua Lee
Executive Director / Chief Curator, Taiwanese American Arts Council (TAAC)

Taiwanese artist Deng Wen-Jen uses embroidery and soft sculpture to forge a language of cultural geography and history. Rooted in Taiwan’s cultural landscape and informed by field research and residencies across the world, her work draws on indigenous motifs, food culture, and deep historical truth to create textile narratives of place and belonging.

By way of hand-dyed fabrics and thread, Deng maps a visual world shaped by ecological observation and cultural circulation. Her “quiet feminism” emerges through material intimacy—reclaiming fiber art as a vital medium for self-expression and placing it squarely in the mainstream of art history.

Exhibition Details 📍

Exhibition Title
Wen-Jen Deng: The Embedded Stitch – Contemporary Fiber Art from Taiwan

Curators
Ming Turner, Luchia Meihua Lee

Exhibition Dates
June 4–28, 2025

Opening Reception
Friday, June 6, 6–8 PM

Panel Discussion
Friday, June 13, 3–5 PM

Venue
Tenri Cultural Institute of New York
43A West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011
📞 +1 212-645-2800

Sponsors
Ministry of Culture, Taiwan
T-Content Plan

Local Organizer
Taiwanese American Arts Council

台灣藝術家鄧文貞運用刺繡與軟雕塑，形塑出一種文化地理與歷史的視覺語言。她的創作深植於台灣的文化地景，並融合來自全球各地的田野調查與駐村經驗，藉由原住民圖像、飲食文化與深層歷史記憶，編織出關於場所與歸屬感的纖維敘事。

透過手工染布與縫線，鄧文貞勾勒出一個由生態觀察與文化流動構成的視覺世界。她的「靜默女性主義」透過材質的親密性悄然展現，重新賦予纖維藝術自主表達的力量，並將其置於當代藝術史的核心位置。

策展論述｜李美華
台美文藝協會創會執行長 / 主策展人

The Taiwanese artist, Wen-Jen Deng, has been utilizing embroidery and textiles in her art creation for more than twenty years, and has been creating a body of impressive and unique works which visualize the diversity and hybridity of contemporary Taiwanese culture.

The exhibition, The Embedded Stitch, exhibits a selection of her fiber artworks which do not deal directly with the concepts of feminism, but rather depict her identity and how this is related to indigenous Taiwanese tribal culture, and to the complex colonial history of Taiwan.

Curatorial Statement –Ming Turner
Professor, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

作品
Works of Art

堅果島 Pagganck Island 1624–2024

麻布袋、藍染、刺繡、複合媒材

burlap bag, indigo dyeing, embroidery, mixed media
125×190 cm ｜2025

堅果島 (局部)Pagganck Island 1624–2024(detail)

Description of art work

Governor's Island is in New York Bay, New York City. The aboriginal people named it Pagganck ("nut island"). The Dutch West India Company established a Dutch colony in 1624 on Noten Eylant or Nutten Island, and moved it to New Amsterdam (now called Manhattan). Later in 1624, the Dutch East India Company went to Anping, Tainan, establishing Fort Zeelandia, and ruling Taiwan for 44 years. The Dutch purchased beaver skins from the Indian tribes to make expensive hats and sold them to the Europeans, whereas in Taiwan they purchased deer skins from the Siraya tribe and sold them to the Japanese to make armor. In both cases, the Dutch made huge profits. The Dutch traded New Amsterdam to the British in return for a monopoly on the spice trade. In 1776, the United States became an independent nation. However, Taiwan has had a different fate. This point is worth thinking about. During their occupation of New York, – and so Governors Island (1776 to 1783) – the British reserved the island for the benefit and accommodation of His Majesty’s Governors, hence its current name. Many small bungalows and old red brick buildings are preserved on the island, as well as a castle and fort, testifying to the American military occupation of Governors Island. It has been 400 years since the Dutch arrived in New York and in Anping. In this work, we can see Dutch ships and high-rise Manhattan buildings at the same time. This is a map of historical events; it travels through space and time.

堅果島 (局部)Pagganck Island 1624–2024(detail)

作品描述

「總督島」是美國紐約市紐約灣的一個島嶼，原住民稱此地為堅果島（Pagganck），1624 年荷蘭西印公司最早佔領的一個殖民地，後續在曼哈頓建立新阿姆斯特丹城，改名新約克（紐約）。同一年荷蘭東印度公司來到台南安平，建立熱蘭遮城，開始 44 年的殖民統治。相比較之下，他們跟印地安人收購河狸皮做成昂貴的氈帽賣給歐洲人，跟西拉雅人收購鹿皮賣給日人做鎧甲，獲取暴利。這兩個地方同樣地被外來政權不斷易主統治。1776 年美國獨立建國，然而台灣卻有著不同的命運，我認為這點值得提出來與大家共同思考！英國人在占領紐約以及家弗納斯島期間（1776–1783），保留了總督島的名稱。島上存有許多黃色小洋房和紅磚老建築，防禦城堡與砲台見證了古老的歷史。適逢荷蘭人到紐約 400 年，我們可以同時看見荷蘭戎克帆船和曼哈頓高樓大廈，這是件穿越時空的歷史事件地圖。

餐桌上的全球化
Globalization at Table

餐桌上的全球化 Globalization at Table

刺繡、藍染、麻布、複合媒材

embroidery, indigo dyeing, burlap fabric, mixed media
150×300 cm ｜2023-2024

餐桌上的全球化(局部) Globalization at Table(detail)

Description of art work

Using indigo dyeing, embroidery and soft sculpture to express a world map, she continued to raise concerns and reflections on history and modern society with cartography. Columbus brought vegetables, fruits and other species to the old continent, which influenced food culture all over the world: Potatoes had exploded the population of Europe. French fries are the most common food on the table. Peppers, which were formerly more expensive than gold, have now become an essential spice for Indian curry and Korean kimchi; cassava has become the main food in Africa. Taiwan has become famous for bubble tea, the main ingredient of which is cassava powder. Perceptions of the tomato have changed from a poisonous plant to an indispensable ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, and ketchup is sold all over the world.
Above the table, globalization on the dining table continues to occur and evolve. Under the table, killings have destroyed the Maya and Inca civilizations and decimated many indigenous peoples. The farm economy required numerous workers, which has contributed to many global migrations. When we eat Ketchup, do we know where the tomatoes are grown? Should we think a little bit about the source of materials?

餐桌上的全球化(局部) Globalization at Table(detail)

作品描述

以藍染刺繡與軟雕塑表現世界地圖和軟雕塑，作者持續以地圖誌對歷史與現代社會提出關注與省思。哥倫布將蔬菜水果等物種帶到舊大陸，影響了全世界的飲食文化。馬鈴薯讓歐洲人口暴增，薯條是餐桌上最普遍的食物；辣椒沒有成功喬裝成比黃金昂貴的胡椒，卻成為印度咖哩和韓國泡菜必備的食材；木薯在非洲變成主要糧食，現在台灣知名的珍珠奶茶，主要原料是木薯；番茄在歐洲從可能是有毒的植物，變成地中海飲食不可或缺的食材，現在番茄醬行銷全世界。在桌面上，餐桌上的全球化持續在發生、演進；在桌面下，歷史上的殺戮摧毀了馬雅和印加文明和原住民，農場經濟需要大量的勞工，促成人口的遷徙。所以我們在吃番茄醬時，知不知道番茄種在哪裡呢？我們是不是應該思考一下原物料來源呢？

餐桌上的全球化(馬鈴薯) Globalization at table (Potetoes)

餐桌上的全球化
Globalization at Table

4-2Globalization at table(hamburger set)2023 150x300cm (1).JPG

漢堡套餐　Hamburger Set

不織布、刺繡、棉花、布料、花葉移印染、羊毛布

Non-woven fabric, embroidery, cotton, eco-print, wool fabric

鄧氏番茄醬 Deng's ketchup，15×8×30 cm

漢堡 hamburger，20×30×15 cm

珍珠奶茶 bubble tea，10×20 cm│2023

青埔時間行旅
Ching-Pu Time travel

青埔 1924　Ching-Pu 1924

刺繡、藍染、麻布、複合媒材

embroidery, indigo dyeing, burlap fabric, mixed media
150×300 cm ｜2024

青埔時間行旅
Ching-Pu Time travel

記憶是文化 Memory is Culture 1935–1999

刺繡、棉布、珍珠紗、複合媒材

embroidery, cotton, pearl yarn, mixed media

150×300 cm ｜2024

青埔時間行旅
Ching-Pu Time travel

流動的宴饗　A Moveable Feast

刺繡、烏干紗、珍珠紗、複合媒材

embroidery, organdy, pearl yarn, mixed media

150×300 cm ｜2024

青埔時間行旅 Ching-Pu Time travel

Description of art work

This triptych is based on a 1924 1:50,000 scale map from the “Historical Maps of Taiwan” collection at Academia Sinica. It centers on the area now known as the Cingpu (Ching-Pu) High-Speed Rail District. Although each piece depicts the same geographical location, they present a journey across time—layering landscapes from different eras to form a century-spanning cartographic collage. In 1711, Lu Hsia-Chen began cultivating the Ching-Pu region. Early settlers were primarily Hakka migrants from Guangdong and Zhangzhou, as well as Hoklo Hakka. During the Japanese colonial period, construction of a light railway (push car) began in Taoyuan in 1912, with a top speed of 25 kilometers per hour. Ching-Pu served as the rail’s terminal point—hence the nickname thih-ki-bué, meaning “the end of the line.” The 1924 historical map clearly marks a “push car.” The first panel uses indigo dye as its primary medium—burlap in earthy tones, blue rivers, and embroidered blue threads depict irrigation ponds, rail carts, and human figures, evoking the modest, rural atmosphere of early Ching-Pu. The light railway was dismantled in 1935. The second panel is inspired by oral histories collected from local elders, weaving together vivid memories of rural life in Taiwan: gathering around the stove in winter, going to school in spring, catching fish in the summer heat, enjoying opera performances during the autumn harvest season. These intimate vignettes of daily life are embroidered as cultural memory. In 1999, bulldozers leveled the last of the traditional three-sided compound houses (Sanheyuan). In their place rose high-speed rail tracks capable of carrying trains reaching 300 kilometers per hour, metro lines, wide roads, and soaring buildings. The third panel—constructed with translucent organdy, pearls yarn—uses patchwork techniques to assemble a modern skyline of high-speed rail, highways, art museums, and urban architecture. If you were to ask me what modernity is, I would say: it is the sensation of speed. In the pursuit of convenience and acceleration, perhaps we have lost something more precious—the slowness that once defined our lives!

青埔 1924（局部）Ching-Pu 1924 (detail)

作品描述

此地圖組件是以中研院台灣百年歷史地圖 1924 五萬分之一古地圖為參考圖，以現今青埔高鐵特區為地圖範圍，三件作品為同一地點的地圖套疊，卻是穿越百年時空的行旅。1711 年呂夏珍開墾青埔地區，早期以廣東、漳州的客家人、福佬客移民為主。日治時期日本人於 1912 年開始在桃園興建輕便鐵路（台車道），時速 25 公里，青埔是「鐵支尾」，是輕便鐵路的終點，1924 古地圖上清楚地標示「手壓台車軌道」。第一幅以藍染為主要媒材，土黃色的麻布、藍色河流與藍色繡線，刺繡出埤塘、台車與人物，表現青埔早年樸素的氛圍，1935 年輕便鐵道拆除。第二幅是作者以訪談地方耆老們的精彩故事，將台灣農村生活珍貴記憶勾勒出來，包括冬日圍爐、春天上學、涼夏抓魚、秋收看戲⋯等趣事。1999 年推土機剷平了所有的三合院，開始興建時速將近 300 公里的高速鐵路、捷運、馬路、大樓一間間拔高，第三幅是以輕透的烏干紗與珍珠紗，以拼布的技法製作出高鐵、汽車、美術館等建築群。如果你問我現代化是什麼？現代化對我來說就是速度感，在人們享受快速與便利的同時，或許我們失去更多珍貴的慢時光！

古茶布安 1300-1980-2009
Kuchapongone

古茶布安 Kuchapongone 1300-1980-2009

藍染、麻布袋、十字繡、刺繡、苧麻線、麻繩、棉線、繡線

Indigo, kuletu dyeing, burlap bag, cross stitch, embroidery, ramie, linen and cotton threads

150×170 cm｜2022

雲豹回家
Cloud Leopard go Home

雲豹回家 Cloud Leopard go Home

織錦畫、棉線、毛線

Tapestry and cotton threads

150×170 cm｜2025

死之華 II
Les Fleurs de la Mort II

死之華 II Les Fleurs de la Mort II

織錦畫、麻繩、棉線

Tapestry, linen and cotton threads

161×131cm｜2020

泰雅族遷徙圖
Atayal Migration Map

泰雅族遷徙圖 Atayal Migration Map

麻布袋、藍染、刺繡

Burlap bag, indigo dyeing, embroidery

161×131cm｜2021

壺生
Pottery Birth

壺生 Pottery Birth

織錦畫、麻繩、棉線

Tapestry, linen and cotton threads

161×131cm｜2018

台灣事件 1867-1874
Taiwan Expedition

台灣事件 Taiwan Expedition 1867-1874

麻布袋、藍染、十字繡、刺繡

Burlap bag, indigo dyeing, cross stitch, embroidery

161×131cm｜2018

穿越西拉雅
Siraya Through Time

穿越西拉雅 Siraya Through Time

織錦畫、麻繩、棉線、甘蔗葉和皮、自然染色

Tapestry, linen and cotton threads, sugar cane leaf and skin, natural dyeing

161×131cm｜2017

蕭壠地圖 1626-2017
Map of Soulangh

蕭壠地圖 Map of Soulangh 1626-2017

麻布袋、藍染、十字繡、刺繡

Burlap bag, indigo dyeing, cross stitch, embroidery

161×131cm｜2017

浯洲鹽場 1613
Quemoy Saltern

浯州鹽場 Quemoy Saltern 1613

麻布袋、藍染、刺繡、複合媒材

Burlap bag, embroidery, indigo dyeing

41×55cm ｜2024

古寧頭戰役 1949
Guningtou Battle

古寧頭戰役 Guningtou Battle 1949

麻布袋、藍染、刺繡 Burlap bag, indigo dyeing, embroidery
45×53cm ｜2021

金城 803-1945
Jincheng

金城 Jincheng 803-1945

麻布袋、藍染、刺繡、複合媒材

Burlap bag, embroidery, indigo dyeing, Mixed media
45×53cm ｜2021

國姓爺－料羅 1646-1661
Koxinga Lauloi

國姓爺－料羅 Koxinga Lauloi 1646-1661

麻布袋、藍染、刺繡、複合媒材

Burlap bag, embroidery, indigo dyeing
45×53cm ｜2023

烈嶼 2007-2013
Lieyu

烈嶼 Lieyu 2007-2013

麻布袋、藍染、刺繡

Burlap bag, indigo dyeing, embroidery
45×53cm ｜2021

蔡牽－大膽島 1802
Tsai Chien l. Toatta

蔡牽－大膽島 Tsai Chien l. Toatta1802

麻布袋、藍染、刺繡

Burlap bag, embroidery, indigo dyeing
45×53cm ｜2023

東沙島
Tung-Sha Island

東沙島 Tung-Sha Island

棉布、刺繡、藍染、薑黃染

Cotton fabric, embroidery, indigo, turmeric dyeing
80×100cm ｜2021

太平島
Taiping Island

太平島 Taiping Island

棉布、藍染、刺繡

Cotton fabric, indigo dyeing, embroidery
80×100cm ｜2018

鮮蚵麵線
Oyster Noodles

鮮蚵麵線 Oyster Noodles

再生布條、鐵絲

Recycled cotton threads, steel wire
95×95×70cm ｜2025

策展論述｜陳明惠 國立成功大學創意產業設計研究所教授

Curatorial Perspective –Luchia Meihua Lee Executive Director / Chief Curator, Taiwanese American Arts Council (TAAC)

策展論述｜李美華 台美文藝協會創會執行長 / 主策展人

Curatorial Statement –Ming Turner Professor, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

作品 Works of Art

餐桌上的全球化 Globalization at Table

餐桌上的全球化 Globalization at Table

青埔時間行旅 Ching-Pu Time travel

青埔時間行旅 Ching-Pu Time travel

青埔時間行旅 Ching-Pu Time travel

古茶布安 1300-1980-2009 Kuchapongone

雲豹回家 Cloud Leopard go Home

死之華 II Les Fleurs de la Mort II

泰雅族遷徙圖 Atayal Migration Map

壺生 Pottery Birth

台灣事件 1867-1874 Taiwan Expedition

穿越西拉雅 Siraya Through Time

蕭壠地圖 1626-2017 Map of Soulangh

浯洲鹽場 1613 Quemoy Saltern

古寧頭戰役 1949 Guningtou Battle

金城 803-1945 Jincheng

國姓爺－料羅 1646-1661 Koxinga Lauloi

烈嶼 2007-2013 Lieyu

蔡牽－大膽島 1802 Tsai Chien l. Toatta

東沙島 Tung-Sha Island

太平島 Taiping Island

鮮蚵麵線 Oyster Noodles

策展論述｜陳明惠
國立成功大學創意產業設計研究所教授

Curatorial Perspective –Luchia Meihua Lee
Executive Director / Chief Curator, Taiwanese American Arts Council (TAAC)

策展論述｜李美華
台美文藝協會創會執行長 / 主策展人

Curatorial Statement –Ming Turner
Professor, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

作品
Works of Art

餐桌上的全球化
Globalization at Table

餐桌上的全球化
Globalization at Table

青埔時間行旅
Ching-Pu Time travel

青埔時間行旅
Ching-Pu Time travel

青埔時間行旅
Ching-Pu Time travel

古茶布安 1300-1980-2009
Kuchapongone

雲豹回家
Cloud Leopard go Home

死之華 II
Les Fleurs de la Mort II

泰雅族遷徙圖
Atayal Migration Map

壺生
Pottery Birth

台灣事件 1867-1874
Taiwan Expedition

穿越西拉雅
Siraya Through Time

蕭壠地圖 1626-2017
Map of Soulangh

浯洲鹽場 1613
Quemoy Saltern

古寧頭戰役 1949
Guningtou Battle

金城 803-1945
Jincheng

國姓爺－料羅 1646-1661
Koxinga Lauloi

烈嶼 2007-2013
Lieyu

蔡牽－大膽島 1802
Tsai Chien l. Toatta

東沙島
Tung-Sha Island

太平島
Taiping Island

鮮蚵麵線
Oyster Noodles