From left, Denise Ferris, Ms. Jane Ogge-Cowan, Jane Golley, Ms. Chin-Jie Melodie Liu, Wei-Chung Ken Lai, Dr. Benjamin Penny, Alison Alder and Mr. John Lin

Drawing Near, an initiative of the ANU Taiwan Studies Program, is a multi-media visual arts exhibition by Chin-Jie Melodie Liu, an emerging Taiwanese artist based in Canberra. She completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts with First Class Honours in Print Media & Drawing at the ANU last year and she’s now pursuing a Master of Museum and Heritage Studies there. 

The ANU Taiwan Studies Program is a significant collaboration between the Ministry of Education of Taiwan and the Australian National University (ANU), now in its 10th year. The aim of the Program is to enhance and widen access to knowledge of Taiwanese language, politics, society, culture and history. Wei-Chung Ken Lai, the deputy representative of TECO in Australia attended the reception for the opening of the exhibition on February 17 and congratulated the artist on the success of the exhibition. 

Drawing Near investigates Chin-Jie Melodie Liu’s journey exploring her family heritage. This artist reinterpreted objects and photographs and examined archival material, in order to deepen her understanding of her identity as a Taiwanese woman. At the same time, her work reveals the layered narratives that co-exist in contemporary Taiwanese society.

Chin-Jie Melodie Liu received a number of awards for Drawing Near: a 2020 ANU School of Art & Design Emerging Arts Support Scheme (EASS) Megalo Print Studio & Gallery Residency Award,  a Country to Coast Residency and Exhibition Award, a Gallery of Small Things Exhibition Award,  an EASS Patrons Honours Scholarship, and a Gray Smith and Joan Scott Prize.