Art Meets Cuisine: Taipei's "TAIPEIING" Continues Its Ceramic Art Exhibition at Yucun Japanese Restaurant

▲ TAIPEIING partners with Nangang’s Yucun Japanese Restaurant, transforming the original Japanese eatery into an open cultural and artistic space.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan, Taipei

The conceptually curated restaurant "TAIPEIING TAIPEIING," which blends art with dining, had to temporarily close its Neihu branch in January 2017 due to lease expiration. Although an ideal new location has yet to be found, the brand remains committed to delivering a refined lifestyle to everyone. Two months later, TAIPEIING partnered with Nangang’s Yucun Japanese Restaurant to transform the original Japanese eatery into an open cultural and artistic space — where you can enjoy Japanese cuisine while appreciating art.

The ceramic artists featured in this exhibition at Yucun Japanese Restaurant include Cai Jichen, Wang Xirui, Chen Fenglin, Wang Jie, and Cunrentang. Among them, Cai Jichen often draws inspiration from tree trunks, tree segments, and wooden pots. The most eye-catching piece in this Yucun exhibition is “Free Cycle,” which features half a Buddha statue and half gears, challenging conventional perceptions of Buddha imagery by integrating Western industrial gear structures. The gears also symbolize the Buddhist concept of "samsara" or reincarnation.


▲ Free Cycle.


▲ Works by Teacher Cunrentang engage in a dialogue between light and thin-bodied porcelain.

Teacher Cunrentang’s works primarily feature the thin-bodied porcelain craft. Each piece is delicate and graceful, with a thickness as fine as an eggshell — hence also referred to as eggshell porcelain. According to the TAIPEIING official website, “In pursuit of lightness, translucency, and a warm, jade-like delicacy, artisans meticulously paint, carve, and glaze the paper-thin walls of the porcelain body before firing them at high temperatures. From rough trimming to fine detailing, every step combines craftsmanship, patience, and ingenuity, showcasing the pinnacle of thin-bodied porcelain artistry.”

Address: Room B, No. 66, Sec. 2, Economic and Trade Blvd., Nangang District, Taipei City
Tel: 02-2785-2228


▲ Yucun kaiseki cuisine.