San Francisco Museum Exhibits Nymphia Wind's Costumes, Taiwanese Cultural Elements Amaze Audience

(Central News Agency, San Francisco, 11th, Special Dispatch) The special costume exhibition of Nymphia Wind at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has drawn widespread acclaim. Nymphia attended a talk event today, expressing her hope to speak for Taiwan and providing a detailed introduction to her gowns adorned with uniquely Taiwanese elements. Attendees told reporters that Nymphia's work has brought Taiwan's unique culture, which is rarely seen by the general American public, into the spotlight.

The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco grandly opened the special costume exhibition of Nymphia Wind tonight, showcasing three iconic costumes designed and interpreted by this Taiwanese drag queen: her classic banana dress, the off-white gown embellished with Taiwanese elements like the clouded leopard and Mikado pheasant that she wore when passing the crown, and a purple opera-style costume.

Nymphia appeared in person for the ribbon-cutting and participated in a talk. Due to overwhelming demand for the talk, the museum decided to add additional sessions.

Born in the United States and raised in Taiwan, Nymphia told the moderator that during her upbringing, she discovered she had a stronger interest in Taiwanese culture than many of her peers. She also revealed that she is currently learning the handicrafts of Taiwan's indigenous peoples. "I want to think about how to immerse myself in Taiwan's indigenous culture, learn from them, and truly explore the diverse cultures that Taiwan possesses," she said.

Nymphia further told the San Francisco audience that she hopes to speak for Taiwan. "We don't have a seat at the United Nations, and at the Olympics, we can't really use the name 'Taiwan'; we have to compete under the name 'Chinese Taipei'," she said.

"I think it's very important as a Taiwanese person to have the courage to speak up and speak for your country... As a public figure, I feel it's very important to clearly express that I am Taiwanese and my identity as a Taiwanese person," she stated.

She also said that being able to stand on the stage of "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "perform to the best of my ability, representing my country and my Asian identity, means a great deal to me." She became the first Taiwanese drag queen to win the show in 2024.

Nymphia attended the talk in non-drag attire tonight. The venue was packed, and her insightful remarks drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The moderator specifically asked Nymphia to introduce the Taiwanese inspiration and elements of the off-white gown.

Nymphia said, "For that design, I wanted to focus on the characteristics of Taiwan as an island and the natural resources this land possesses." Before that, her inspiration was more often drawn from elements like Peking opera, face paint, and temple fairs.

"Interestingly, when that outfit appeared, many Taiwanese people immediately recognized the animals because they are endemic species to Taiwan... People recognized the clouded leopard and Taiwan's Mikado pheasant," Nymphia said. She mentioned that she used to frequently climb Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain. "The image of that sea of clouds is deeply imprinted in my mind... It became my impression of Taiwan as an island and the beauty of Taiwan," she recalled.

San Francisco resident Erin told reporters that Nymphia's costume exhibition has brought Taiwanese culture more into the public eye. "We don't usually see this kind of art here, so being able to see that culture and those elements is truly amazing," she said.

Alexa praised the costume design, saying, "The attention to detail is incredible, from the nails to the shoes, every part is so thoughtful. It's really amazing and cool to see Taiwanese culture enter fashion in this way." (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150612