Founded in 2022 by Dutch artist Pascal van der Graaf and curator Arwen Yang, the gallery represents established Dutch artists whose practices may differ from mainstream contemporary art in Taiwan and Asia, yet resonate deeply on a philosophical and spiritual level. Through exhibitions, art fairs and international collaborations, Bug 2 Gallery aims to broaden artistic perspectives and create new points of connection between cultures.

The gallery’s name, Bug 2 (虫二), originates from a classical Chinese anecdote attributed to Emperor Qianlong. By removing the outer strokes of the characters “風月”(wind and moon, a metaphor for natural beauty), the remaining core characters “虫二”suggest an idea of boundless beauty—an open-ended state of perception ratherthan a fixed meaning. This concept reflects the gallery’s curatorial approach: focusing on what remains essential when surface forms are stripped away.

Pascal van der Graaf, recipient of the Dutch Royal Award for Modern Painting (2007), brings a strong foundation in Western art practice, while Arwen Yang, who holds a Ph.D. in Classical Chinese Literature from Peking University, contributes a deep understanding of Eastern philosophy and cultural thought. Together, they shape a gallery program in which East and West are not positioned as opposites, but interwoven through shared questions of perception, materiality, and spirit.With an emphasis on long-term artistic development rather than short-term trends, all artists represented by Bug 2 Gallery maintain established international practices and enter the Asian context through the gallery, positioning both the artists and the gallery within a broader transnational cultural conversation.

Curatorial Structure & Roles
‍Bug 2 Gallery operates through a clearly defined dual-corestructure.

Pascal van der Graaf is responsible for the artistic direction of the gallery,including artist representation, art historical positioning, and thephilosophical framework through which Taiwanese and European artistic contextsare connected.

Arwen Yang oversees the gallery’s curatorial strategy andinstitutional development, including international art fair participation,exhibition planning, resource allocation, and dialogue with public and culturalinstitutions. Through this division of roles, artistic autonomy and curatorialstrategy develop in parallel, allowing the gallery to operate sustainablyacross different cultural and institutional contexts.