Taiwan's Collateral Event at 2026 Venice Biennale Explores Digital Melancholy

At the 2026 Venice Biennale, Taiwan's collateral event, curated by Raphael Fonseca, features artist Li Yi-Fan (born 1989, Taipei) with the exhibition 'Screen Melancholy' at Palazzo delle Prigioni, open until November 22, 2026. Organized by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM), the show delves into anxieties of the digital age through a site-specific installation blending virtual and real elements: a single-channel video in the central hall and monumental human sculptures in the corridors. Li Yi-Fan's practice, evolving from 'digital puppetry' to real-time graphics engines since 2021, uses humor and absurdity to critique image-making tools and power structures. The work reflects on perception, subjective consciousness, and the limits of knowledge in an era of information overload and generative AI. TFAM director Li-Chen Loh stated the museum continues to highlight Taiwanese art's global specificity, while curator Fonseca noted Li's obsession with contemporary image production. The exhibition runs from May 7 to November 22, 2026.