b. 1957 in Taiwan
Wu Mali lives and works in Kaohsiung and Taipei, Taiwan. After graduating from the National Art Academy, Dusseldorf, Wu Mali returned to Taiwan in 1985 to a new environment and this inspired her to reconsider the artist’s role in society. She developed an interest in socially-engaged practice and started to make installations and objects that deal with historical narratives. Since 2000 she has been producing community-based projects such as Awake in Your Skin, 2000 - 2004 a collaboration with the Taipei Awakening Association, a feminist movement in Taiwan that uses fabric to explore the texture of women’s lives. In By the River, on the River, of the River, 2006, she worked with several community universities tracing the four rivers that surround Taipei. Art as Environment—A Cultural Action on Tropic of Cancer, made between2005 - 2007 in Chiayi County, is Wu Mali’s most recent project. With the help of the county government she invited over 30 artists to reside in 20 villages and together they attempted to shape a learning community through art. This project made a significant impact on local cultural policy and inspired people to consider different ways to activate community building. It also resulted in a series of conferences and dialogues organised by NGOs.
Wu Mali participated in 'Parallel Reality', Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial, 2005 and exhibited in 'Re-Thread', 2006 – a project produced with the support of South Asian immigrant textile workers at BBC Radio Lancashire, Blackburn, England.