Exploring Inner and Ecological Sustainability: NSYSU Hosts the Taiwan-France IDG Action Art Week

The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) embody the interconnectedness of the global ecosystem. This vision has given rise to the initiative of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), which highlights the importance of people's inner values and core qualities in improving and protecting the Earth’s ecological environment. To advance this vision, the Aerosol Science Research Center (ASRC) of National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) collaborated with the KONG Performance experimental field to organize "RUBATO!—Stolen Perceptions and Time: Taiwan-France IDG Action Art Week." The event integrated art and science, inclusion of diverse and marginalized groups, and featured the participation of a renowned French choreographer, who guided participants to explore perception and time through action art while delving into the mysteries of "divergent bodies" navigating multiple timescales and universes.

Professor Chia C. Wang, Director of NSYSU's ASRC, opened with quotes from Einstein—"A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space" —and quantum physics pioneer Max Planck—"What we perceive as matter is merely a manifestation of a force." She used these to introduce, from a scientific perspective, the invisible yet ever-present aerosol particles that shape human health and living environments. She further explored the life cycles of different cells, the brain’s mechanisms of time and sensory perception, and the interplay of internal and external influences.

She explained that the term Rubato, derived from Italian meaning "stolen," symbolizes the limitations of species in perceiving the natural environment and experiencing time. Wang emphasized that only by recognizing the mechanisms of the five senses and their limitations in perceiving the environment and connecting with others can people fully appreciate the profound interconnectedness and unity of humans and nature. This recognition opens the path to deeper understanding, empathy, and inclusiveness, allowing people to transcend existing frameworks and co-create a new sustainable ecology built on compassion, coexistence, and shared prosperity.

Associate Professor Elaine Ho from NSYSU's Department of Theatre Arts, together with the KONG Performance experimental field team, presented two action art works from their project "Voices of the Five Senses: Divergent Bodies and Cultural Equity in the Face of Barriers" These works incorporated the concepts of "crip time" and "affordance," transforming disability into possibility and exploring the multiplicity of time in "divergent bodies." Through the performers' movements and language, the artworks depicted phenomena akin to aerosol particles shifting over time, probing the perception of time and the essence of life. Ho explained that the self-awareness and sense-making within artistic creation embody key IDG inner development skills, while using art to challenge stereotypes of disability serves as critical thinking in practice. The Taiwan-France IDG Action Art Week exemplified the IDG values of collaborating and co-creation, and echoed the principle of acting, merging science with performance art as a response to the pressing challenges faced by humanity and the Earth's ecosystems.

NSYSU President Chih-Peng Li remarked in his address that the event embodied the fusion of art and science while embracing diversity and marginalized communities. This forward-looking practice demonstrates NSYSU's commitment to integrating science and humanities, and to advancing innovation in higher education. The program also featured renowned French choreographer Maylis Arrabit, who used action art to lead participants inward into the body to explore the intricate relationships of "divergent bodies" with time and space. In addition, the event presented a joint exhibition of artists with disabilities, "Let’s Go Traveling: Life Against the Current, Landscapes of the Heart," curated by Hui-Ju Chang, founder of EE Cultural & Creative International Enterprise, and organized by the Kaohsiung Labor Affairs Bureau. The exhibition showcased original artworks that revealed the unique worlds perceived by artists with disabilities, inviting the audience to recognize the different scopes and limitations of human perception.

An action art piece from the project "Voices of the Five Senses: Divergent Bodies and Cultural Equity in the Face of Barriers" —the Barrier Performance—which transforms disability into possibility.

Through the movements and language of artists from the KONG Performance experimental field, the performance illustrated phenomena akin to aerosol particles shifting over time, exploring time perception and the essence of life.

Renowned French choreographer with disabilities, Maylis Arrabit (left), shared the aesthetic experiences of people with disabilities, explaining how to reinterpret the concept of RUBATO from the perspectives of time and perception.

One of the event organizers, Associate Professor Elaine Ho (left) of NSYSU's Department of Theatre Arts, with Hui-Ju Chang (right), curator of Let's Go Traveling and founder of EE Cultural & Creative International Enterprise.

A panel discussion with organizers, speakers, and participants.

NSYSU President Chih-Peng Li remarked that this event integrated art and science while embracing diversity and marginalized groups. He noted that its vision of advancing IDGs and ecological sustainability aligns with NSYSU's "AI²" philosophy of governance—Artistic & Inclusive, Advanced & Innovative.

The joint exhibition of artists with disabilities "Let’s Go Traveling: Life Against the Current, Landscapes of the Heart" showcased the beauty of original art.