ASTORIA, NY.- Museum of the Moving Image presents the New York premieres of four virtual reality projects in the exhibition Portals of Solitude: Virtual Experiences from Taiwan, from April 25 through July 27 in the Museum’s Jane Henson Amphitheater. Featuring a broad range of styles and subjects, the four works capture feelings of isolation and ostracization through the lens of oppression, sickness, and loneliness. The exhibition is organized by guest curator Michaela Ternasky-Holland and presented in partnership with Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA).

During the run of the exhibition, the Museum will host two events featuring the artists: on Friday, May 2, at 6:00 p.m., a virtual Creator Panel; and an event in June with representatives present.

The works include:

Hungry (Dir. Liu Yushu. 2024, 11 mins.)

The son of a divorced Taiwanese glove puppeteer, Xiao Guo attends all his father's performances. It seems like another lonely day for Xiao Guo, until, in a fever dream, the puppets suddenly come to life and take on maternal roles to care for him.

The Sick Rose (Dirs. Tang Zhi-Zhong, Huang Yun-Hsien. 2021, 17 mins.)

In the aftermath of an argument, Rose is determined to apologize to her mother, who works at the local hospital. As the pandemic escalates throughout the town, the route to the hospital becomes dangerous and difficult to navigate.

The Man Who Couldn’t Leave (Dir. Singing Chen. 2022, 35 mins.)

Within the walls of the former Green Island prison, located on a volcanic inlet off the coast of Taiwan, political detainee A-Kuen tells stories of imprisonment and persecution that took place in the 1950s.

Dora (Dir. Yi Jung Chen. 2024, 30 mins.)

Sigmund Freud often hypnotized patients diagnosed with “hysteria” and observed them with an audience in a medical theater. In this interactive VR experience, the audience assumes the role of real-life patient Dora, who suffered from a traumatic childhood marked by a family scandal.

These VR experiences are recommended for visitors ages 13 and older. Please note that two of the experiences have mature themes and imagery and are strongly recommended for adult-viewing only. Visitors to the Museum will be able to reserve a time to see each project within the exhibition. Time slots are available first-come, first-served on the day of visit and cannot be booked in advance.

The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), established in June 2019 and supported by the Ministry of Culture, is a professional intermediary organization working to facilitate the development of Taiwan’s content industries including film and TV, publishing, pop music, ACG, and more.