Courtesy of Yosifu & Editorial Office
Yosifu, a renowned indigenous artist from the Matadim Tribe in Yuli, Taiwan, is the first Taiwanese indigenous artist to participate in the Edinburgh International Festival. Although he has lived in Edinburgh for many years, he has spent recent years traveling between Yuli and the UK, planting seeds of art that take root in his homeland.
Bold and Vivid Creations｜Coloring the Land of Matadim Tribe
In 2018, Yosifu returned to Yuli and transformed his family home into “Tribal Queen Art & Cafe.” Since then, visitors to Hualien have had the chance to encounter his work in person. Stepping into the café, one is immediately greeted by two large-scale pieces on the wall, Eye of the Sun and Harvest, which embody Yosifu’s signature style: bold, vivid, and intense colors that seem to capture the passionate spirit of the Amis people. Perhaps most striking is the Matadim Church Mosaic Art Wall, located diagonally across from the café. Infused with Amis cultural motifs and realized through community collaboration, it strengthens tribal cohesion. The wall has received the National Public Art Award and is a favorite spot for visitors to take photos.
Immersed in Yuli’s Landscape｜Rooted in the Essence of Indigenous Art
Returning to his homeland seems to fuel Yosifu’s creative energy. He continues to expand the reach of his art beyond the Matadim Church, with projects such as the Danongdafu South Entrance installation, public artworks in the Lalaulan Tribe in Taitung, and large-scale ship paintings at Grand Cosmos Resort in Ruisui.
Over the past year, Yosifu has curated numerous exhibitions. On November 29, “Tribal Queen Art & Cafe” hosted the lecture “Listening to the South Seas, where he shared that only by embracing one’s identity can one truly hear the ocean. As design director of the “Fali Fali Music Festival,” he created Golden Rice Waves, an installation inspired by the golden rippling rice fields he grew up with. He also organized the photography exhibition “Kilimen ko iayaway a pinangan (Rediscovering Our Original Self),” collecting historical photos to highlight the beauty and essence of local traditions, giving visitors a deeper understanding of the purity of his homeland.
INFO｜Tribal Queen Art & Cafe
Address: No. 29, Matadim Village, Yuli Township, Hualien County
Telephone: 0955-923242
Business hours: 11:00-17:00，Sunday 12:00-17:00（Closed Tuesdays through Thursdays）
Lavatory: Yes