'Tatsuo Miyajima: Human Life as Collective Experience' at Asia University Museum of Modern Art, Taiwan

18 February 2026

Until 10 May 2026, Asia University Museum of Modern Art presents 'Tatsuo Miyajima: Human Life as Collective Experience'. The title 'Human Life as Collective Experience' invites two inquiries: 'life' refers not merely to humanity but also to various beings on earth, while 'collective' ponders the impacts of human activities and behaviours on one another and other forms of life.

Stemming from his childhood experiences of frequent illness and hospitalization, Tatsuo Miyajima develops a core concern about life in his practice, employing numbers and countdowns as key elements in his works. Numbers exist in our lives, from the date, month, and year of birth to the people, things, and objects we encounter; number counting and recording are everywhere, shaping how we perceive the world around us. Countdown symbolizes the passing of life, and the various fluctuations and experiences in our lives are presented via the distinct, varied rhythm of the countdown. Number 0, a significant existence obscured in Miyajima’s works, represents the passage to the next cycle, unlit, yet securing an absolutely vital position.

'Human Life as Collective Experience' is Tatsuo Miyajima’s first solo museum exhibition in Taiwan, featuring the artist’s classical works from 1993 to 2025, newly created artworks, as well as rarely-seen concept drawings for creative projects and performance art. The numbers in the exhibition, coming from various cultures and languages, are imbued with distinct speed, tone, or color, symbolizing the state of collective existence of numerous individuals around the world, intertwining and coexisting in communities. This exhibition, featuring an oeuvre spanning over three decades, is not a static retrospective. Instead, it is a solo exhibition involving different stages of participation and journeys of co-creation, engaging in an intimate dialogue with the local context. With five collaborative works produced with participants from Taiwan, Wufeng, and the China Medical University - Asia University System, the artist seeks through the exhibition to reflect that we are more than individuals, rather a collective with everyone involved and interdependent on each other.

Find out more via Asia University Museum of Modern Art.

Image: Tatsuo Miyajima, Changing Landscape Changing Museum, 2025 © Asia University Museum of Modern Art. Photo by Jay Chang