Guan-Ting Hou + Shiho Morita "Determined Fragility"

Guan-Ting Hou、Shiho Morita

Jun 20 - Jul 5, 2026

In this exhibition, we present two artists, Guan-Ting Hou and Shiho Morita, who employ traditional materials and techniques such as lacquer, textiles, dyeing, and coating, while moving beyond conventional modes of expression centered on decoration and representation to pursue profound inquiries into time and life.

Making his second appearance at gallery Unfold, Guan-Ting Hou continues to explore the essence of life and existence through textile-based practice. In his new work Ginkgo, which investigates the origins and essence of creation, he replaces artificial fabric with animal hide, inscribing irreversible traces onto the “body” of a stuffed figure through burning and impact marks. Rather than generating something entirely new, the presence placed upon a lacquer tray evokes the lingering aura of a living creature. It resonates with the beauty revealed through shadow described by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki in In Praise of Shadows, reflecting the fragility and transience inherent in life itself.

Meanwhile, in Huasiān, Hou incorporates dyeing techniques alongside his established practice of sewing. While the work presents a more vibrant and exuberant appearance than before, it simultaneously evokes the inevitable cycle of life: flowers that bloom only to wither, and ripe fruit that begins to decay in the next moment. Through this contrast, the work renders the disappearance and sublimation of life with even greater clarity.

Shiho Morita is fascinated by the phenomenon of droplets forming on spider silk and creates “lacquer threads” by coating silk thread with lacquer. In her latest works, she employs threads even finer than before, bundling and tying them together within space to form sculptural compositions. Yet the purpose is not simply to materialize a preconceived form. Rather, she embraces the fact that the lacquer threads themselves cannot stand independently and will continue to change in response to external influences and the passage of time. As though the threads possess a life of their own, Morita draws forth a beauty that is inseparable from life's uncontrollable nature.

Although the works of both artists are exceptionally delicate and fragile, they are underpinned by an unwavering sense of purpose. Their practices embody an acceptance of imperfection and change, as well as a willingness to witness the continual transformation of things. Remaining vulnerable can itself be an expression of strength, and remaining open can generate richness and possibility.

We hope this exhibition offers an opportunity to experience the subtle passage of time and the ever-changing nature of life.

Text｜Mu-Wei Huang