About

Muainn is an independent, breathing archive based in Taiwan.

We give voice to artists, works, ideas, critiques, and ways of seeing grounded in the Taiwan art scene, while never confining ourselves to art, nor to Taiwan alone.

“Muainn” (麻薏) is a traditional dish from Taiwan’s Taichung coastline. Often cooked as a soup, it starts bitter, then slowly reveals an earthy sweetness. The plant traces back to the Japanese colonial period, when jute was widely cultivated for fibre. Only the stalks were used; the remaining leaves were gathered, worked, and cooked. Today, Muainn soup is a summer staple along the coast, though its preparation remains labour-intensive. Stalks and leaves must be separated, veins removed by hand, leaves washed and rubbed again and again until their sap emerges and turns slick and dense. Only then can a proper bowl of Muainn be made. The process often takes an entire day.

Preparing Muainn is much like the act of creation itself. The process might seem tedious, but it requires a profound level of care and sincerity.

Through the Muainn project, we aspire to explore and reimagine the Taiwanese art scene through writing, moving images, and exhibitions. We don’t set limits on what the scene can be, nor on ourselves. Muainn is a way of bearing witness and expanding the boundaries of this moment we inhabit, here and now.