From September 18th to 21st, the project team and teachers from partner schools crossed the ocean to Matsu, a dreamlike island where the sea meets the land, for a multi-day trip. From Nangan to Dongju, they visited art hubs on Matsu International Art Island, experiencing firsthand the daily life, art, spirit, and beauty of Matsu, and engaging in in-depth dialogue.

At the 26th Outpost, the former military base space is combined with the ingenuity of a professor from the Department of Architecture at National Cheng Kung University. The rusted steel plates and rock walls reflect each other, echoing the surrounding natural landscape. Light falls on a chessboard specially set up by the artist, where the staggered black and white pieces represent the hopes and ideals of the Matsu people. Each piece is intertwined with the sound of the ocean waves, creating a soft whisper.

Upon arriving at the installation art in the Chung Cheng Hall, the woven fishing net resembles blue tears shimmering in the night, radiating a dazzling fluorescent hue. It is as if a black hole formed by the collapse of the universe transcends the boundaries of time and space, connecting the emotions of the people of Matsu and immersing the visiting teachers in its beauty.

The project team also visited Dongju Elementary School, engaging in in-depth exchanges with teachers and students. Teacher Huiqin from Dongju Elementary School shared their international collaboration with Ogijima Elementary and Middle School in Japan, connecting the emotions and dreams of the two islands through cyanotype printing and kite-flying activities, showcasing the achievements of Dongju Elementary School in promoting aesthetic education. Just like the title of the artwork, "The Days When We Became Clouds Together with Two Islands," we seem to be facing the winds of Matsu, watching the giant kite rise into the sky, sending blessings and strength to the distant shore across the sea.

This spirit also echoes the "Paoju" imagery of this year's Art Island main visual, conveying the spirit of unity and hard work among the people of Matsu. The interdisciplinary aesthetics project, like aged wine that has ripened in summer, transcends geographical and disciplinary boundaries with the arrival of the monsoon, working together with teachers from partner schools to wholeheartedly support aesthetic education, striving to cultivate vibrant red spider lilies on this land.