TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese artist Hsu Jui-hsien (徐瑞憲), known for his mechanical kinetic art installations, has focused his latest work on the Russo-Ukrainian War with a piece featuring over 100 recycled baby strollers.
Over two months, Hsu collected over 100 baby strollers and traveled to Ukraine to gather local war sounds. He brought the deafening bombing sounds from the front lines into the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM), where his solo exhibition “Between II” is taking place. This powerful experience prompts reflection on the necessity of war.
The inspiration for the show comes from news about 109 babies who lost their lives within a month of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response, 109 baby strollers were placed in Lviv's Rynok Square to commemorate these children, as part of an event called “The Price of War.”
Hsu said this work mourns the souls who did not have the chance to grow up, presenting war's cruel truth and universal impact. He hopes to highlight the voices of people that have been drowned out.
The exhibition entrance features a charred artillery shell from the Ukrainian battlefield, resembling a blooming flower from afar. This creates a juxtaposition between something that seems beautiful from a distance but is sorrowful upon closer inspection.
Visitors can scan QR codes on the strollers to hear stories from Ukrainians affected by the war. During Taiwan News' visit, stroller number 46 shared the story of a Ukrainian woman married to someone in Chiayi, Taiwan.
The woman recounted how her mother was frightened by temple fireworks in Taiwan, as they reminded her of bombs in Kyiv. "Even after the war ends, people will still be traumatized for many, many years," she said.
Hsu's solo exhibition is on display at the TFAM through October.
