Portals of Solitude: Virtual Realities from Taiwan

Jane Henson Amphitheater

This installation features four virtual reality (VR) experiences created by Taiwanese filmmakers and artists that immerse the viewer into the worlds of isolated protagonists. Their stories are marked by mental and physical separation that demonstrate fragility and resilience. VR heightens the themes of detachment and seclusion, while collapsing the distance between audience and characters. Although these stories are distinct in their visual approach, as a group they all invite us to see solitude as a condition that reveals the depths of human connection, imagination, and survival.

Organized by guest curator Michaela Ternasky-Holland

The works include:

Hungry (Dir. Liu Yushu. 2024, 11 mins.)
The son of a divorced Taiwanese glove puppeteer, Xiao Guo attends all his father’s performances. It seems like another lonely day for Xiao Guo, until, in a fever dream, the puppets suddenly come to life and take on maternal roles to care for him. 

The Sick Rose (Dirs. Huang Yun-Hsien, Tang Zhi-Zhong. 2021, 17 mins.) 
In the aftermath of an argument, Rose is determined to apologize to her mother, who works at the local hospital. As the pandemic escalates throughout the town, the route to the hospital becomes dangerous and difficult to navigate. 

The Man Who Couldn’t Leave (Dir. Singing Chen. 2022, 35 mins.) 
Within the walls of the former Green Island prison, located on a volcanic inlet off the coast of Taiwan, political detainee A-Kuen tells stories of imprisonment and persecution that took place in the 1950s. 

Dora (Dir. Yi Jung Chen. 2024, 30 mins.)
Sigmund Freud often hypnotized patients diagnosed with “hysteria” and observed them with an audience in a medical theater. In this interactive VR experience, the audience assumes the role of real-life patient Dora, who suffered from a traumatic childhood marked by a family scandal. 

NOTE: These VR experiences are recommended for visitors ages 13 and older. Two of the experiences have mature themes and imagery and are strongly recommended for adult-viewing only.

Visitors to the Museum will be able to reserve a time to see each project within the exhibition. Time slots are available first-come, first-served on the day of visit and cannot be booked in advance. 

About TAICCA 

The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), established in June 2019 and supported by the Ministry of Culture, is a professional intermediary organization working to facilitate the development of Taiwan’s content industries including film and TV, publishing, pop music, ACG, and more. Learn more at en.taicca.tw.