Shyu Ruey-Shiann Curious art enthusiasts stood mesmerized by Taiwanese artistkinetic installations on display at the booth of Double Square Gallery at Taipei Dangdai, the new contemporary art fair that had its first run last week in the capital city of Taiwan. The fair has been remarked upon for its ability to attract a number of international mega-galleries like Gagosian Hauser & Wirth , and David Zwirner to this inaugural edition—speaking to the thirst for further entry points into the important Asian art market. But it’s equally remarkable for the extent to which local participants like Double Square have embraced the fair as an opportunity to champion Taiwanese contemporary art and to put Taiwan back onto the world map.

Double Square Gallery’s co-founder and curator Sean Hu said the gallery sold at least half of the works in its booth, where prices ranged from US$10,000 to US$110,000, to Taiwanese and international collectors. But another gallery staffer was just as quick to point onlookers towards a fellow Taiwanese gallery, InArt Space, that was also showing Shyu.

“Welcome to Taiwan,” she said with a friendly smile.

Helmed by the team that launched ART HK a decade ago before selling that fair to Art Basel in 2011, Taipei Dangdai saw 90 galleries set up shop within the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, and many people from the international art circle of collectors, curators, and museum directors flew into the city to take a look. All told, 28,201 individuals visited the fair during its four-day run, with tickets selling out on the fair’s last day.