Taipei's art scene thrives through mother-daughter collaboration

The Taiwanese art scene has grown significantly over the years, influenced by gallerists Tina Keng and her daughter Shelly Wu. They have been important in promoting both Chinese and Taiwanese artists. Tina Keng, now 72, reflected on her journey in the art world. She started her career three decades ago, seeing a lot of uncertainty and a market mostly focused on Western art. She recalled a moment in Paris when she noticed a painting by a Chinese artist named Sanyu. Despite its beauty, it did not get much recognition in Asia. This experience inspired Keng to support artists with Chinese backgrounds. Today, Keng runs a gallery in Taipei that showcases modern and contemporary works from various generations of artists. Her daughter, Shelly Wu, 42, manages a gallery in the same building that features multimedia installations and experimental art, mainly from local creators. Each gallery represents different aspects of arts—Keng’s focuses on traditional Chinese heritage, while Wu’s looks toward innovative future projects. Together, they highlight the diversity in Taiwan's vibrant art community.