Services
We don't need charity; instead, we must always be vigilant (in the market) to ensure that GDAP is providing the beauty that society, businesses, and organizations demand (Aesthetic Demand). We operate with a curatorial package as a unit, starting with our first exhibition at our base in Dihua Street (80 sqm), followed by a tour (in Taiwan) — four locations, each for three months.
At this point, the named exhibitions and corporate headquarters exhibitions create a matrix of spaces. Besides the designated named exhibitions, the companies will also receive exhibitions curated by three additional teams. At the same time, the companies can compete for three exposure opportunities (locations).
Our service combines businesses with young creators, aligning with several SDGs:
Reflection on Technology
Looking back at the two major innovations of the 2020s:one being the top-down technological craft of AI, and the other being the underlying infrastructure — blockchain. Human work patterns will undergo massive changes, with AI replacing most basic-level jobs, including customer service, sales, painting, coding, etc. As blockchain evolves with smart contracts, intellectual property (IP) will inevitably integrate from production’s ERP to sales’ CRM.
Social classes will be reshuffled, resulting in approximately three layers:
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AI owners
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People who "interact" with AI
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Those who obey AI
If we are not prepared, we will helplessly face the fate of obeying AI. What GDAP can contribute to society is to increase the number of people in the second category — 2. those who "interact" with AI. This can range from co-creating art with AI to any AI-designed interactive programs, not limited to factory management or school teaching. When data is combined with AI, it is no longer static; it becomes a medium that people can utilize.
GDAP focuses on technological art (including AI art) and can play a key role in helping students rise from the third layer to the second layer.
Cultural Aspect
GDAP plans to launch a native Chinese AI project in 2024, which will include utilizing open-source communities to document contemporary Taiwan while leveraging the National Palace Museum's existing digital archives of Chinese historical culture. The goal is to create an AI rooted in Chinese cultural heritage and reflective of contemporary Taiwan.
Social Aspect
In the previous explanation, we discussed collaborations with businesses, schools, or organizations to provide regular curations. We bring beauty out of the white cube, engaging both with society and the market. This model can be likened to Uber for Art.
Public Benefit
Disruptive Innovation (Clayton Christensen):GDAP provides reasonable subsidies (covering transportation, accommodation, materials, equipment, insurance) to students and young creators, with no commission taken from them.
GDAP also hosts irregular Masterclasses, where more established artists give back to students, society, or GDAP projects. Similar to a limited partner in a fund, this initiative encourages students to learn from or be inspired by these "Masters".
In addition, we are collaborating with Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School and Taipei First Girls' High School to create micro-courses on generative art, and we have invited the leading figure of generative art from Japan to encourage and mentor high school students.
Innovation in Education
Day one global (market), core community first.
The rising wave of NFTs is a trend, not speculative, but rather a redefinition of the IP infrastructure. We encourage students to create not to chase the tastes of a few gatekeepers but to explore their own preferences, with the market determining the value of their work. Starting from the first collector, then accumulating ten, a hundred, and even a thousand collectors. Some collectors will grow with you, while others, though not economically able to participate, will silently cheer you on — this is the concept of skin in the game.
Blockchain represents a breakthrough for digital IP. In less than six months, GDAP has already supported two creators who, through generative art and AI-interactive art, found their audiences and each accumulated double-digit collectors, establishing their own markets. GDAP’s guiding philosophy is to help all students who wish to "go on-chain" find their stage, from abstract art theory to the practical use of blockchain.
The difference between GDAP and traditional gallery models is our belief that three ordinary people working together can surpass one Zhuge-Liang. This is a fundamental risk management concept that also forms a natural network of artists, growing together through mutual support, rather than artificially creating a single genius. The market is always right. Thus, we focus on young students — from curation, exhibition setup, discussions, to sales — this is the core of our plan, implemented through projects like GDAP#1, GDAP#2, and so on, step by step.
Industry Connection
We recognize that not every student who strives to create is suited for the solitary path of "fine art". However, we walk alongside them. The concept of aesthetic equity ties into my "Weak Aesthetic Value Hypothesis" — where we can help every creator find the stage for their journey of self-actualization and self-transcendence, applied across various industries. Aesthetics are never in excess in our world; even a fleeting glimpse of beauty holds great significance. Only by acknowledging the "Weak Aesthetic Value Hypothesis" can we democratize beauty.
In this context, our operation is similar to a "YC Combinator for artists", an accelerator for creators. However, we only take social equity, not management or agency fees. For instance, in the Keelung Fashion Gateway, we secured two major stages for students to gain experience and exposure. This series of projects combining art and industry are called GDAP sp i, sp ii, sp iii...
An example of cross-industry collaboration is when we brought three creators to participate in Taipei Fashion Week, blending fashion and art. Whether it is food, clothing, or shelter, beauty’s sensibility is omnipresent; it requires close observation and practical application, even if not across generations, the ability to sense beauty can be unlocked everywhere.
Sustainability
We believe in sustaining art through art itself. In addition to supporting young creators through initiatives like GDAP (#1, #2, #3, …), we also have a Masterclass program (#Z, #X, #W…), where established Masters give back to the fund in various forms. Those with skills contribute their talents, and those with financial resources contribute their wealth. Yesterday's GDAP students may become tomorrow's Masterclass teachers. GDAP is not just a talent platform but a knowledge network for those who love art, encompassing knowledge sharing, technical practice, and empathetic understanding of taste.
The calculus of taste — the Chinese character for "taste" clearly demonstrates the subjective, internal aspect of taste. The sum of these weighted preferences leads to publicly recognized taste (品味). Similarly, if we differentiate personal taste, we get aftertaste (回味), a reflection of taste that can be projected and mirrored in both directions — etsaT. This is the fundamental driving force behind creation, independent of era, culture, or technological background. It transcends contemporary theories or mediums. The subtle difference between taste and refined taste can be likened to Yuan Mei’s "Suiyuan Food Menu", which draws on the Doctrine of the Mean from the Book of Songs:"Hold a handle to cut a handle, its measure is not far". This subtly implies the delicate distinction between these two forms of beauty.
Innovation
Much like how TSMC’s pure-play fabrication paved the way for many fabless designers, GDAP’s mission is to guide young creators away from both the traditional museum system (integrated) and the gallery model (capital-intensive). By doing so, we are carving out a new path of decentralization and bootstrapping from 0 to 1. Our hope is that many young creators will find their stage in the borderless art market and the broader applications of art. After proving themselves through the tests of market and time, they can return to prominent museums when the time is right.
GDAP’s mission is to ensure that more young creators can thrive, multiplying the number of participants in the art ecosystem. As the denominator grows, the chances for local Taiwanese artists to reach the international stage will also increase. As this ecosystem expands, GDAP will grow alongside it.
We believe that our model can achieve self-sufficiency while also enabling rapid growth. The difference between industrialized art and the art industry lies in the fact that the former is non-zero sum. We hope to collaborate with foundations or your esteemed company to promote Taiwanese art, with a special focus on tech-based art, including AI-driven art. Together, we can work towards the disappearance of the cultural trade deficit, aiming for a future where beauty never sets.
Now is the perfect turning point, the moment for GDAP to take flight. No matter how difficult the road may be, by holding on to a clear vision, there is nothing to fear.