Born in Taiwan, Ya-chu Kang lives and works between Taipei and Bangkok. A multidisciplinary artist, her work blurs the line between reality and imagination. Her practice explores the connections between traditional craftsmanship and physical labor, life conditions and migration, economic exchange and social behavior. Kang often draws inspiration from textile traditions and global post-colonial narratives, examining how natural and social environments are perceived through each project. With references to anthropology and ecology, her work intertwines questions of subconscious experience, existential crises, and the pursuit of sustainable futures. Her creations frequently address themes of boundaries, transitions, and processes—ranging from hand-woven textiles to unconventional sculptures embedded with industrial histories and environmental shifts—challenging viewers to reconsider notions of resilience and transformation.

Kang is the recipient of the 2014 Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation Fellowship (Taiwan), the 2008 Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, the 2007 Freeman Fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center (USA), and has participated in the 2024-25 AIR program at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France. She has been actively involved in community art initiatives and educational collaborations. Her multimedia practice spans textiles, painting, sculptural installations, and photo-video documentary, with publications including Textile Map, Volumes 1, 2, and 3. She is currently engaged in cultural research across various countries.