Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei

Exhibition Statement

True fear originates from self-questioning and self-doubt.
Facing one’s fear indicates the moment to wake up and soar high.
From fear to POWER,
Let’s march forward and be brave!

Though each tells a unique story, the 25 nominated works of Q POWER share some common themes. These could be the exploration of desire, emotional connections, the fear of societal judgment, the gender framework for LGBTQ+ or straight people, and identity adaptation in LGBTQ+ families; or reflecting on the defined norms, subverting stereotype labels, proudly being oneself, cross-national same-sex marriage, and the intersectional issues faced by Indigenous LGBTQ+ individuals.

These vibrant stories, expressed through various mediums, reflect the contemporary lives of Taiwan's LGBTQ+ community. Five years after the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan, societal attitudes toward LGBTQ+ issues are gradually improving. While the fear of mainstream rejection persists, the confidence of unique individuals is steadily growing, from fear to POWER.


Exhibition Design Concept

What are your worst fears and the bravest thing you have ever done?
Growing up, we all feared and struggled, tried and failed, fell and stood back up, regardless of gender and sexual orientation.
We seem to see ourselves when seeing other people’s stories.
We know that we are not alone in our struggle when learning about the fears of others.
We feel empowered when watching how others have fought their way.

Learning about other people’s life stories helps eliminate discrimination.
When we face our fears head-on, the possibility becomes unlimited.


Q POWER

In 2019, Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage, but misunderstandings of and prejudices against the LGBTQ+ community continue to exist in everyday life and the social structure.

The Taiwan Equality Campaign (TEC) has been conducting social research. According to polls, nearly 60% of people do not have friends or family members from the LGBTQ+ community, and the media remains their primary source of information about the LGBTQ+ community. Meanwhile, there has been a surge in the number of LGBTQ+ TV programs and films, which often tend to sustain specific story types or images, further deepening stereotypical impressions.

For this reason, based on the example of the GLADD Media Awards (USA), the TEC creates a platform for encouraging creators, distributors, and corporations to convey diverse, accurate, and influential LGBTQ+ stories to society to change gradually the general public’s singular, partial, and stereotypical impressions of the LGBTQ+ community.