Drawing more than 1,000 visitors in its first week, a miniature art exhibition is creating a buzz across the Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) campus. The CYCU Art Center recently launched Gerry Welch: Dreamlike Miniature Dollhouses, welcoming British miniature artist Gerry Welch back to the University. A long-time resident of Zhongli, Taoyuan, Welch is personally leading English-language tours of the exhibition, sharing the stories behind his works, cultural influences, and creative journey. Through this immersive experience, art appreciation is naturally integrated with language learning and cross-cultural exchange, reflecting CYCU’s commitment to internationalization and aesthetic education.
The exhibition brings together highlights from more than four decades of Welch’s artistic practice. Five years after his first Asian exhibition at the CYCU Art Center received an enthusiastic response, Welch once again chose CYCU as a platform to connect with audiences in Taiwan. At the opening reception, he also announced that this would be the final public exhibition of his artistic career, giving the occasion even greater significance as a cultural encounter between the United Kingdom and Taiwan.
Raised in southwestern England, Welch draws inspiration from Tudor architecture, English country cottages, and the landscapes of his childhood. For more than 40 years, he has created miniature buildings at a scale of 1:12, transforming British architectural heritage, historical atmosphere, and everyday memories into intricately crafted miniature worlds.
Unlike conventional scale models constructed from fixed architectural plans, Welch’s works often begin with personal observation, memory, and imagination. From structural details and weathered surfaces to interior furnishings and decorative objects, each element is handcrafted with exceptional attention to detail, giving every miniature its own distinctive narrative.
During the English-language guided tours, Welch not only introduces the architectural features and craftsmanship of his works, but also reflects on his decades-long creative journey. He describes artistic creation as more than the combined work of the hands and mind; it is also shaped by emotion, memory, and lived experience. Each completed piece, he says, carries a part of his own life within it.
Through the artist’s first-hand interpretation, visitors are able to move beyond simply viewing the works and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural background, personal memories, and creative thinking that shaped them. The exhibition space thus becomes a dynamic environment where language learning, cultural understanding, and artistic dialogue take place naturally.
The opening reception brought together CYCU faculty and students, members of the arts community, and long-time friends of the artist. Miniature polymer-clay artist Wen Hsuan-wen was also invited to share her experiences in miniature art creation and appreciation, while works from private collections belonging to Welch’s friends were displayed as part of the event.
Friends from Taiwan, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan gathered at CYCU through their shared appreciation of art, transforming the exhibition into a platform for dialogue among different cultures, generations, and life experiences.
Chen Min-hui, Director of the CYCU Art Center, noted that Welch’s works not only showcase the precision and craftsmanship of Western miniature art, but also reflect the emotional connection he has developed with Zhongli and Taoyuan after many years of living in Taiwan.
“Having the artist personally engage with visitors in English allows international cultural exchange to move beyond observation and become genuine dialogue,” Chen said. “It gives students opportunities to encounter different cultures, develop aesthetic literacy, and broaden their international perspectives within their everyday campus environment.”
Chen added that the Art Center aims to make art not merely something encountered in exhibition spaces, but an integral part of education and daily life. When students can understand another country’s history, lifestyle, and culture through art while also using language to communicate directly with an international artist, aesthetic education, international education, and holistic education become closely interconnected.
The CYCU Art Center has long been committed to integrating aesthetic education into daily life and advancing the University’s philosophy of holistic education. Through international exhibitions and diverse artistic programs, it continues to foster connections among the University, the arts community, local communities, and cultures from around the world.
The exhibition and its English-language guided tours demonstrate how internationalization at CYCU extends beyond institutional partnerships and becomes part of everyday learning, communication, and cultural experience on campus.
Gerry Welch: Dreamlike Miniature Dollhouses runs through November 14, 2026, at the Mu-Le Exhibition Hall in the North Building of CYCU’s Holistic Education Village. Admission is free.
Opening Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and national holidays.
