TECO’s New York office is one of the Taiwanese government’s most important overseas offices. The 16-story building was purchased in 2005 and now is seen as a gateway to Taiwan.
Commissioned by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture, Island Life, Michael Lin’s large-scale, site-specific artwork, is inspired by patterns from traditional Taiwanese textiles. The first artwork to ever be commissioned for one of Taiwan’s overseas representative offices, Island Life fills the entrance lobby with an exuberant palette of colors synonymous with the warmth and vibrancy of Taiwan. Visitors will find themselves immersed in Lin’s expansive painting due to its complementary relationship with the lobby’s architectural space.
As with many of Lin’s large-scale painting installations, Island Life was painted by local artists. However, artists from the United States, France, Egypt, and South Korea also contributed to the mural’s design. In addition, the painting process was open to visitors, who were able to watch the patterns become more intricate and colorful throughout the month of September. Island Life was completed at the end of the month, and an opening reception was held on October 18, 2022.
Island Life was co-founded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Island Life
Artist: Michael Lin
Size: 56’x27’
Media: Latex Paint on Skim Coat of Masonite
Date: October 18, 2022 to October 31, 2032
Location: Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York
1 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017