"Encounter, Connection, and Cherishing — Memorial Exhibition of Mr. Robert Wu"

Mr. Robert Wu (Wu Ching-yu, 1950-2017) was born into a farming family in Pisha Village, Mashagou, Jiangjun Township, Tainan County. He was the fourth of nine siblings. He graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Taipei Institute of Technology in 1972. In his early years, he spent 18 years in the professional kitchen and hotel equipment sales business, but in 1989, near the age of 40, he founded Eslite Bookstore and transitioned into a cultural figure. At the same time, he established the "Eslite Gallery," upholding a sense of mission and idealism with the goal of promoting contemporary Chinese art. The gallery achieved remarkable results and in 2009 became the first Taiwanese gallery to participate in the world-renowned Art Basel. Through his dedicated efforts to promote Taiwan's cultural enterprises, Mr. Robert Wu encountered, fell in love with, and sponsored art, eventually becoming friends with artists.

The title of this exhibition, "Encounter, Connection, and Cherishing," was a phrase Mr. Robert Wu often said during his lifetime. It briefly expresses how he viewed people and the world, and reflects his gentle yet firm ethical practice throughout his life. As the title of this exhibition, it is not only a tribute to Mr. Wu but also an emotional thread running through the exhibition space, leading the audience back into his various encounters with people, art, and the land, carefully reading how that understanding and tenderness shaped his unique life path.

The exhibition is divided into four zones and a reading space, all centered on important emotional coordinates in his life, forming a visual narrative like a biography. Some works may not be famous, but they hold a unique warmth because he once gazed upon and cherished them; they carry silent encounters and chapters of understanding and care. First, "Love and Kindness" reveals the most simple side of Mr. Wu's life: coming from the grassroots, he always had a deep understanding and respect for workers; he once anonymously donated to help sick children and often lent a hand under the guise of purchasing art. He used art as a medium, making collecting an action to respond to social reality. Second, "Philosophical Reflections on Life" turns to abstract and spiritual levels, responding to the inner pursuit he began after facing a sense of nihilism in middle age, also showing his concern for Eastern aesthetics and religious thought. "Friendship with Artists" showcases the rich interpersonal network and spiritual exchange between him and artists—it was not just a gallery or collector supporting artists, but a testament to mutual understanding and shared creation. The final section, "Scenery and Hometown Nostalgia," mainly features works depicting Taiwan's mountains and land, carrying Mr. Wu's deep attachment to his hometown and reflecting his original intention of "doing something for this land" behind the founding of Eslite and the promotion of cultural affairs. Additionally, a corner of the exhibition hall is specially arranged like a corner of Eslite Bookstore, with bookshelves displaying books that Mr. Wu cherished and recommended during his lifetime, reflecting his spiritual world and continuing his lifestyle of accompanying daily life with reading.

Therefore, "Encounter, Connection, and Cherishing" is not just a quote; it is the refinement of Mr. Robert Wu's life experience and his posture of dialogue with the world. Through this exhibition, we may be able to follow his steps and see how art gently enters life, allowing a person's beliefs to continue to ferment and extend through understanding and empathy.