Four artists from different places lived together at Surfy Space in Luodong, Yilan, sharing their experiences of exploring the surrounding environment and adapting to life in a new setting. These experiences became the source material for their artistic creations, ultimately culminating in an exhibition inspired by their residency. The exhibition attempts to reflect on the artists' perceptions and their positions as outsiders, continuously unraveling the elusive local contexts that remain beyond reach.

Located at the intersection between eastern and western Taiwan, Yilan has been shaped by successive waves of migration from different ethnic groups, resulting in a rich cultural fusion. The region’s past timber industry once defined its rise and decline, whereas today, its economy is centered on tourism. Historical sites and cultural narratives are repeatedly disrupted whenever large numbers of tourists arrive, further complicating how the region’s history is read and understood.

Photography, often regarded as a stereotypical act of tourists, is a dilemma that many artists-in-residence struggle to avoid. Yet, it also symbolizes the limitations of how deeply an artist-in-residence can engage with the local context.

The artists explore and respond to gaps and possibilities within the region, questioning how these efforts can be examined or perceived. Is every attempt at dialogue with the local environment merely an observation from a distance? Do the seemingly interwoven layers of experience ever truly converge, or do they remain separate and unfulfilled?

When the residency space becomes a two-dimensional plane, movement, living, and observation are translated into artistic creation, with sensitivity and rationality constantly shifting. Different dimensions continuously transform and interact, forming an intricate web of relationships between the artist and the residency environment. These relationships are absorbed into the exhibition space, shaping the parameters through which the works operate—ultimately questioning how an artist can navigate, or fail to navigate, the boundaries between themselves and their surroundings.

“Photography Allowed, But Do Not Cross the Line” is a reflection on this brief residency experience—not only as a response to the people, places, and objects encountered but also as an opportunity to rethink the connection between artists and residencies.