From November to December 2024, Soyoung Shin, an artist born in the United States in 1988, was in residence at the TESA Creative Center. Her early performance works were rooted in the memories of growing up as the daughter of Korean immigrants in the U.S. Her artistic creations include a reality TV dating show, a ten-act play performed in an inflatable castle, and wigs made from her own hair.

Since 2019, Soyoung had dedicated most of her time to a career transition, leaving little time for artistic pursuits. In the winter of 2024, she decided to take a break from work to restart her art practice in Taiwan.

During her first visit to Taiwan, Soyoung moved away from her previous approaches—using performance art, handmade crafts, and costumes to communicate heavy themes in accessible ways. At the TESA Creative Center, she experimented with plaster as her medium, weaving bamboo, carving miniature models, and employing the concept of plaster casting. She responded to the environment and space by incorporating her bodily perception and relationship with nature.

Over the 45-day residency at the TESA Creative Center, Soyoung created 24 works. The residency culminated in a showcase that combined an exhibition of the works with an open studio session. During the event, the artist shared her creative process and insights from the residency with the audience.