瑞士裔德國藝術家馬蒂亞斯．加爾夫（Matthias Garff）擅長以廢棄物及日常物品組裝成不同動物樣貌的複合媒材雕塑。馬蒂亞斯．加爾夫在創作時，喜歡同時發想數個動物形象，讓各物種的外在型態相互影響，從中塑造出各自性格。如同人類的社會結構，不同動物在群體中也有著各自的角色，藝術家藉由不同物種的展示來強調多樣性的光譜。在此次展覽中，一隻高達240公分的黑領椋鳥矗立於展場中間，因其比真人更高大，使觀者產生不同的觀感。動物不再看起來可愛，需要更嚴肅地看待牠們。展間末端的展牆上是藝術家裝扮成一隻灰貓的攝影作品，對應的是穿著橡膠雨靴的動物雕塑。無論是披上動物毛假扮動物的人類，還是穿上人類衣物並雙腳站立的動物，這些特徵的融合混淆了雕塑與觀者之間的位置及角色。
藝術家將各個雕塑散落地放置於展間不同角落，仿佛這些動物在台北街頭的角落與人類共存的狀態。牆面上展示了廢棄物製成的昆蟲標本及鴿子拼貼作品；舊書包製成的獼猴坐在低矮的展台上；醬料罐製成的老鼠在一旁地上；小喇叭盒製成的小黑狗從櫃檯旁跑過；溜冰鞋製成的藍鵲和鍋子製成的啄木鳥則在四周高處的棲木上俯視展間。透過觀看馬蒂亞斯的雕塑，觀者首先會看到動物樣貌，然後注意到化作雕塑材料的回收廢棄物及日常物品。這種觀看經驗觸發觀者思考人類對資源的使用方式、與大自然的關係，並對所處的環境更加敏感。
這次展覽展示了台灣動物群的多樣性和美麗，並在不同層面上反思都市中人類與這些非人類生物的共存關係，它們不僅把人類的棲息地變成了自己的家園，還從人類拋棄廢棄物中生長出它們的身體。
Swiss-German artist Matthias Garff uses intriguing qualities of discarded materials and everyday items to create lively and distinctive animal sculptures.Garff's working process involves creating multiple figures simultaneously, allowing the shapes of various materials to influence one another, thereby giving each sculpture its unique character. Similar to the roles within human social structures, different animals possess distinct roles within their groups. Garff emphasizes the diversity of nature through his presentation methods in this exhibition. Central to the exhibition is a 240 cm high black-collared star, towering over viewers, offering a perspective of seriousness rather than mere cuteness. At the end of the exhibition hall, Garff's self-portrait as a gray cat engages with a sculpture of an animal in rubber boots. Whether it's a human dressed as an animal or an animal standing upright in human clothes, these artworks blur the lines between animal and human identities.
The sculptures are deliberately placed throughout the exhibition space to reflect on their coexistence with humans in Taipei's hidden corners. Works on walls feature insect specimens and collages of pigeons assembled from Taiwanese street finds. A macaque made from an old school bag sits on a low pedestal; a tiny mouse from sauce jars rests on the floor; a small black dog from a trumpet case crossing the counter. Above, blue magpies from a skating shoe and a woodpecker from a pot perch oversee the exhibition space. Viewers first encounter Garff's sculptures, initially noticing their forms, and then are drawn in by the recycled waste and found items that compose them. This viewing experience encourages reflection on human resource utilization and our relationship with nature.
"City Dwellers" celebrates the diversity and beauty of Taiwan’s wildlife, and reflects on different levels on our coexistence with these non-human creatures who have not only made our habitat their own, but also formed their bodies from the abundance of objects in our throwaway society.