For Taiwan's indigenous peoples, all things carry spirit — present in ceremony, in craft, and in the rhythms of daily life, alive in every moment where a life touches the world around it. Taoyuan is home to the second largest urban indigenous population in Taiwan, with nearly 90% living in city areas. The pace and texture of urban life continuously shapes how indigenous people pass on and identify with their culture.
This exhibition interprets spirit as the force that draws people deeper into their own cultural roots. The exhibition title oi ha hai — Indigenous Vitality carries two layers of meaning: Indigenous Vitality speaks to a cultural energy that keeps transforming and creating within the city; oi ha hai is borrowed from Amis ritual song — a call to the spirits of heaven and earth — meaning "Spirit, I am here."
From the origin, into the city — following the paths of culture and memory, witnessing the ways indigenous culture continues to shine in the present day.
