Along the Main, Frankfurt
從美因河畔的一次旅行，到作品重新回到它萌生的城市。一段由旅行、創作與人的相遇所串起的故事，也正慢慢延伸至台灣與德國之間。
2026年8月，江心靜的作品在德國法蘭克福展出，由 Hiraya Gallery Germany 畫廊主人 Ulrich Dausien 策劃，於 NIO House Frankfurt 呈現。
河流沒有真正的起點，也不急著抵達終點。
它穿過城市，穿過時間，也穿過一次次偶然的相遇，把原本遙遠的人與地方，慢慢連在一起。
對我而言，2026年的美因河，就是這樣的一條河。
從一次偶然的相遇開始
我與 Ulrich 的相識，其實始於一場很偶然的相遇。
2023年11月，我們因班機延誤，在桃園機場的閱讀空間認識。從旅行、單車聊到彼此共同認識的朋友，才發現原來我們的人生早已有許多意外的交集。
2026年初，Ulrich 與 Donna 再次來到台灣，我們在台北重逢，他們也特別到台中觀看我的作品並拜訪抱雲齋。
藝術，慢慢成為我們新的共同語言。
臨別前，他們邀請我們四月前往德國。
有些相遇，當下看來只是一個偶然；要經過時間，才會知道它最後將流向哪裡。
從美因河回到畫布
2026年4月，我和小樹來到德國。
在 Ulrich 與 Donna 陪同下，我們走訪法蘭克福與哈瑙，也一起參觀德國的藝術展覽與藝博會。
那段時間，我們經常沿著美因河行走。
河流穿過法蘭克福，一邊是現代城市的高樓與街道，另一邊是美術館、老城、樹木與河岸生活。
水面映照天空，也承接著城市不斷移動的光影。
旅行結束回到台灣後，那些沿河行走留下的色彩、空氣、光線與身體記憶，慢慢重新出現在畫面裡，成為〈海洋心象〉系列新的篇章——
《Along the Main｜在美因河畔》
這些作品並不是對法蘭克福風景的直接描繪。
美因河更像一條線，把水、街道、樹影、城市空氣，以及人的移動連結在一起。
墨、色彩與細微的線條彼此層疊，讓城市與自然在畫面之中慢慢交融。
而河，也逐漸成為時間的隱喻。
有些旅行已經結束，卻會在很久以後，以另一種形式重新回到我們身上。
Hiraya Gallery Germany 為江心靜製作的展覽資料，介紹藝術家及《Along the Main｜在美因河畔》系列。
《Along the Main｜在美因河畔》系列部分作品，2026。
四月的一場拜訪
同一次德國旅程中，我與小樹也在 Ulrich 與 Donna 陪同下，拜訪駐法蘭克福辦事處羅美舜處長。
我們分享我的藝術創作，也談起這些年從台灣出發，在不同城市展覽與旅行的經驗，以及我們一直希望透過藝術，讓台灣與歐洲之間產生更多交流與連結的想法。
那一天，只是一場很真誠而愉快的交流。
當時我們並不知道，幾個月之後，這次相聚還會延伸出新的可能。
2026年4月，藝術家江心靜（中立者）和林存青（左二）在 Hiraya Gallery Germany 畫廊主人 Ulrich Dausien （左一）與 Donna （右一）陪同下，拜訪駐法蘭克福辦事處羅美舜處長。（右二）
八月，作品回到法蘭克福
2026年8月，《在美因河畔》重新回到它最初萌生靈感的城市。
由 Ulrich Dausien 策劃，作品於 NIO House Frankfurt 展出。
從四月的一次旅行，到回到台灣之後的創作；再從台灣跨越一萬公里，重新回到法蘭克福——
當作品真正出現在德國的空間裡時，對我而言，彷彿完成了一次很奇妙的往返。
旅行曾經進入畫裡，而畫，又回到了旅行發生的地方。
NIO House 是一個結合設計、生活、交流與展覽的城市空間。
作品離開熟悉的工作室與台灣文化環境，在另一座城市的日常生活裡與觀眾相遇。
我一直覺得，藝術真正有趣的地方，往往發生在作品離開藝術家之後。
不同文化背景的人站在同一幅作品之前，看見的也許完全不同。
而正是這些不同，使作品開始擁有自己的旅程。
在作品前，相遇繼續發生
展覽最後一天，Ulrich 在現場舉辦了一場藝術聚會。
不同背景的朋友聚集在作品之間觀看、交談，也分享各自對藝術的感受。
駐法蘭克福辦事處馮秘書也特別前往參與交流。
雖然我們當時人在台灣，無法親自出席，但收到遠方傳來的照片時，仍然感受到作品正在人與人之間產生新的連結。
展覽最後一天的藝術聚會，來自不同背景的觀眾在作品之間交流。
展覽閉幕典禮，Hiraya Gallery Germany 畫廊主人 Ulrich Dausien （右）向駐法蘭克福辦事處馮治鈞秘書（左）介紹江心靜的作品。
一路走來，我愈來愈深刻地感受到：
一位藝術家想要走出自己的國家，在另一種文化裡被看見、被理解，進而建立長久而真誠的交流，需要時間。
需要一場場展覽，一次次談話，也需要許多人的支持。
下一站｜駐法蘭克福辦事處
更令人欣喜的是，八月的展覽結束之後，這段旅程並沒有畫下句點。
在羅美舜處長與駐法蘭克福辦事處的支持下，部分作品將延續至駐法蘭克福辦事處展出。
從法蘭克福城市中的展覽空間，再進入一個連結台灣、德國以及不同國家訪客的公共場域，對我而言，這不只是展覽地點的轉換，也像是作品展開另一段新的文化旅程。
希望未來走進辦事處的德國朋友、台灣旅人，以及來自不同國家的訪客，都有機會透過作品，看見來自台灣的當代藝術創作。
藝術也許無法立刻跨越所有語言與文化的距離。
但它可以先創造一個觀看彼此的入口。
而這，已經是一件非常珍貴的事。
一條河，繼續向前
從2023年的一次偶然相識，到2026年再次重逢；
從四月美因河畔的旅行，到回到台灣後完成作品；
再從八月的一場展覽，走向駐法蘭克福辦事處。
回頭看，那些原本看似微小而偶然的連結，經過時間的醞釀，真的可能長成意想不到的風景。
這一路也讓我愈來愈明白：
藝術家的道路，不只是把作品送到更遠的地方。
真正重要的是，在不同城市與文化之間，讓作品有機會被看見、被理解，也讓人與人因為藝術而產生真實的相遇。
我也想把這份喜悅，分享給一路關心我、鼓勵我，以及收藏我作品的朋友們。
謝謝你們始終相信我的創作。
每一份收藏、每一次分享與鼓勵，都是支持我繼續工作、一步一步走向更遠地方的重要力量。
美因河仍然流著。
而作品的旅程，也還沒有結束。
我會繼續創作，讓作品從台灣出發，在不同的城市與文化之間被看見、被理解。
也期待透過藝術，在世界不同的地方，慢慢留下屬於台灣當代藝術的足跡。
Along the Main in Frankfurt | 2026
From a journey along the Main River to the return of the works to the city where they first took shape, a story woven through travel, art, and human encounters continues to unfold between Taiwan and Germany.
In August 2026, my works were presented in Frankfurt, Germany, in an exhibition curated by Ulrich Dausien of Hiraya Gallery Germany at NIO House Frankfurt.
A river has no single beginning, nor does it hurry toward its destination.
It moves through cities and through time, passing through unexpected encounters and gradually connecting people and places that once seemed far apart.
For me, the Main River in 2026 became just such a river.
An Unexpected Encounter
My friendship with Ulrich began quite by chance.
In November 2023, during a flight delay at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, we met in a quiet reading area near the departure gate. A conversation that began with travel and cycling soon revealed several unexpected connections through people we both knew.
In early 2026, Ulrich and Donna returned to Taiwan. We met again in Taipei, and they later travelled to Taichung to see my works on exhibition and visit Bao Yun Zhai Art Space, where they had the opportunity to see more of my practice.
Art gradually became a new language between us.
Before leaving Taiwan, they invited us to visit them in Germany that April.
Some encounters seem entirely accidental when they first happen. Only with time do we begin to understand where they may lead.
From the Main River Back to the Canvas
In April 2026, I travelled to Germany with Xiao Shu.
Accompanied by Ulrich and Donna, we spent time in Frankfurt and Hanau and visited exhibitions and art fairs in Germany.
During those days, we often walked along the Main River.
The river passes through Frankfurt between the contemporary skyline and the museums, old streets, trees, and everyday life along its banks. Its surface reflects the sky while carrying the constantly shifting light of the city.
After returning to Taiwan, the colours, air, light, and bodily memories of those walks gradually found their way back into my work.
They became a new development within my Ocean in My Heart series:
Along the Main
These works are not direct depictions of Frankfurt or the Main River.
Instead, the river becomes a thread connecting water, streets, tree shadows, urban air, and the movement of the body.
Through layered ink, colour, and fine lines, the city and nature begin to merge quietly within the pictorial space.
The river also becomes a metaphor for time.
A journey may have ended, yet much later, certain moments return to us in another form.
Suggested image: Exhibition DM1
Exhibition material produced by Hiraya Gallery Germany introducing Chiang Hsin-Ching and the Along the Main series.
Suggested image: Exhibition DM2
Selected works from the Along the Main series, 2026.
A Visit in April
During the same journey, Xiao Shu and I were also accompanied by Ulrich and Donna on a visit to Director-General Lo Mei-shun of the Frankfurt Office, Taipei Representative Office in the Federal Republic of Germany.
We shared my artistic practice and spoke about the exhibitions and journeys that have taken my work from Taiwan to different cities over the years.
We also spoke about a hope we have long held: that art might create more opportunities for exchange and connection between Taiwan and Europe.
At the time, it was simply a warm and sincere conversation.
None of us knew that only a few months later, that meeting would open another possibility.
April 2026. Visiting Director-General Lo Mei-shun at the Frankfurt Office with Ulrich Dausien and Donna of Hiraya Gallery Germany.
August: The Works Return to Frankfurt
In August 2026, Along the Main returned to the city where the series had first begun to take shape.
Curated by Ulrich Dausien, the works were presented at NIO House Frankfurt.
From a journey along the Main River in April, to the process of painting after returning to Taiwan, and then across thousands of kilometres back to Frankfurt, the works completed an unexpected journey of their own.
The journey entered the paintings, and the paintings returned to the place where the journey had begun.
NIO House is a contemporary urban space where design, daily life, exchange, and exhibitions come together.
Here, the works left the familiar surroundings of my studio and their Taiwanese cultural context to encounter viewers within the everyday life of another city.
I have always felt that some of the most interesting moments in art begin after a work leaves the artist.
People from different cultural backgrounds may stand before the same painting and see entirely different things.
It is precisely through these differences that a work begins to develop a life and a journey of its own.
August 2026. Works by Chiang Hsin-Ching on view at NIO House Frankfurt.
Encounters Continue in Front of the Works
On the final day of the exhibition, Ulrich hosted an informal art gathering at the venue.
Visitors from different backgrounds came together among the works to look, talk, and exchange their thoughts about art.
Secretary Feng from the Frankfurt Office also kindly attended the gathering and joined the conversation.
Although we were in Taiwan and unable to be there in person, receiving photographs from Frankfurt allowed us to sense how the works were beginning to create connections of their own.
An art gathering on the final day of the exhibition at NIO House Frankfurt.
At the closing-day art gathering, Ulrich Dausien of Hiraya Gallery Germany introduces Chiang Hsin-Ching’s work to Secretary Mr. Feng, Chih-Chun, of the Frankfurt Office.
Over the years, I have come to understand more deeply that for an artist to move beyond their own country, to be seen and understood within another culture, and eventually to build lasting and sincere relationships takes time.
It takes exhibitions.
It takes conversations.
And it takes the trust and support of many people along the way.
Next Stop | The Frankfurt Office
What makes this journey even more meaningful is that it does not end with the August exhibition.
With the support of Director-General Lo and the Frankfurt Office, selected works will continue to be exhibited at the Frankfurt Office of the Taipei Representative Office in Germany.
Moving from an urban exhibition space in Frankfurt into a public setting that connects Taiwan, Germany, and visitors from many different countries is, for me, more than a change of venue.
It marks the beginning of another cultural journey for the works.
I hope that German friends, Taiwanese visitors, and people from different parts of the world who enter the Frankfurt Office will have an opportunity to encounter contemporary art from Taiwan.
Art may not immediately bridge every distance created by language or culture.
But it can create a place from which we begin to look at one another.
And that, in itself, is something very precious.
A River Continues Forward
From an unexpected encounter in 2023 to meeting again in 2026;
from walking beside the Main River in April to completing the works after returning to Taiwan;
and from an exhibition in August to the next presentation at the Frankfurt Office—
looking back, I realise that connections which once seemed small and accidental can, with time, grow into landscapes we could never have anticipated.
This journey has also made me understand something more clearly:
An artist’s path is not simply about sending works farther into the world.
What matters is creating opportunities for the works to be seen and understood across different cities and cultures, and allowing genuine encounters between people to take place through art.
I would also like to share this joy with everyone who has supported, encouraged, and collected my work along the way.
Thank you for continuing to believe in what I create.
Every collection, every conversation, and every word of encouragement gives me the strength to continue working and to take one more step into the wider world.
The Main River continues to flow.
And the journey of the works is not yet over.
I will continue creating and allowing the work to travel outward from Taiwan, to be seen and understood across different cities and cultures.
Through art, I hope to leave, little by little, traces of Taiwanese contemporary art in different parts of the world.