This book documents the solo exhibition of artist Chen I-Hsuen , titled I Went Abroad, and Then I Went Back. Through artist books, slides, videos, and other extensions of photographic practices, the exhibition portrays three visual journeys during his time studying in the United States and after returning to his homeland. The exhibition explores the self-discovery, cultural shock, and search for belonging experienced by an expatriate, capturing ambiguous scenes and feelings of isolation encountered along the way. The works are divided into three parts: Nowhere in Taiwan, In Between, and Past in the Future, Future in the Past, reflecting his observations and reflections on memory and future life.

Published in 2015
14 x 20 cm
573 pages
Website Link to Book: Here

Showcased as part of Lightbox Photo Library: Travelling Photobook Showcase at the 9th SIPF Photobook Showcase 2024

Artist Biography:

Chen I-Hsuen, born in Taipei in 1982, majored in Advertising and Communications in college and went to the United States in 2010 to pursue a Master’s degree in Photography. He lives and works in Taipei, using imagery as his primary medium. His work primarily explores the sense of belonging while moving between cities and the quest for self-identity and connection to the land. His Nowhere in Taiwan series was exhibited at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and in New York and later became part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.