At the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, it doesn’t take long before you forget you’re at a trade fair.
Taipei Dangdai is the kind of art fair that doesn’t just show you things; it invites you to wander, pause, and listen. Now in its sixth edition, the fair has matured into a confident mix of international presence and local soul. Names known to the global art world — Karsten Greve, Almine Rech, Galleria Continua — appear alongside Taipei’s own Lin & Lin, Each Modern, and Asia Art Center.
The result is not a hierarchy, but a conversation — a quiet, collective heartbeat.
The fair is divided into three main sectors. “Galleries” welcomes the major names. “Edge” is more electric and focused on emerging voices, and for the first time this year, it’s paired with an award. “Embody” is a new space that brings together design, art, and craft.
Taipei Dangdai also includes a special exhibition, Pulling the Plug, which presents three large-scale installations by Taiwanese artists who work at the intersection of technology and culture: Shu Lea Cheang, Su Hui-Yu, and Zhang Xu Zhan. Another space at the fair is reserved for Taipei Node, which introduces the creative process of Li Yi-Fan, who is set to represent Taiwan at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
Of course, there are talks — a full lineup under the title Braided Strands of Fate. But this isn’t a forum of theorists speculating on trends. These panels deal with real materials, geographies, and people: Indigenous art on the global stage, the shifting terrain of Asian biennials, and the way digital art is making — and remaking — its own market.
Taipei Dangdai offers an immersive experience and an informative yet deeply creative environment. It took place from 9 to 11 May at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.
For more information, visit Taipei Dangdai’s website: https://taipeidangdai.com/
Pictures courtesy of Taipei Dangdai.