Soft lighting and music help to give the Artists' Cabin its warm and comfortable atmosphere. Among those gathered, some simply gaze intently at the works on display, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Others sit around tables drinking coffee and discussing art topics. Still others prop up paper and board on their knees and paint. The Artists' Cabin is fulfilling its role of being a place where artists can get together, work, and exchange opinions.

Sculpture, ceramics, paintings and pieces of folk art are all for sale in the cabin. Whereas most galleries in Taipei feature works by one artist at a time, the cabin contains works by many artists, most of them young and unknown. Obviously, its owner has spent some time discovering promising artists to show their best works. The person intent on being a bridge between artists and the public is movie star Lung Chun-er.

Lung's big eyes and large eyebrows do not make her the most beautiful of Taiwan's movie stars, but her rich voice and radiant smile give her an independent image. With her deep passion for life, it was inevitable that she would become involved in art. "When I started to appreciate art, I was only aware of its outer superficiality. But later I began to comprehened the artist's deeper meaning and the true spirit of the work. As I grew to love art more and more, I began to wonder, if inanimate objects inspired me so much, why should people not inspire me more. And from learning to understand people, I was able to understand myself," she said.

From her years of experience in art, Lung realized that many budding artists feel misunderstood. Their work is not accepted by the public, and they cannot find a place to display it. Lung realised that by acting as a bridge between them and the public, she could help these aspiring artists to get established.

As a result, the Artists' Cabin opened on June 1 this year. But Lung had not for a moment thought about who how much it would cost, let alone how she would raise the money. Only when a friend asked her how much the utility bill was, did she realize that she would have to pay these fees at all!

Her fortunes improved when she entrusted the day-to-day running of the gallery to her business partner, Kuan Yung, who has a head for figures. Kuan has often appeared on screen acting the role of the light-hearted entertainer in contrast to Lung's strong and triumphant heroine. In real life, however, their roles are reversed, since Kuan is quiet and cautious, while Kuan Yung is the one with the ideas, but no eye for detail.

In order to discourage people from merely coming to the cabin to sit and talk, beverage prices have been set on the high side, with a soft drink being NT$60 (US$1.50) and a beer NT$80. To help genuine artists who like the atmosphere of the cabin, but cannot afford the prices, Lung often gives them an extra drink while Kuan Yung is not looking. Inevitably, some customers take advantage of the situation, and bills are left unpaid. And then it is time for Kuan Yung to bring Lung back to reality.

"Although we are not running the cabin to make money, we must make ends meet. Once we are on solid ground, then we can discuss ideals," Kuan Yung says. As their business partnership has grown so have the feelings of love between the two. But since both have gone through unhappy marriages, they are in no hurry to rush back to the alter.

Discussing her future plans, Lung is diffident. "At the age of 32, I should be more mature than a 10-year-old girl. In life as in my acting career, I want to take on more meaningful and serious roles." But even as she speaks, Lung Chun-er breaks into a laugh, and her happy and carefree spirit shows through.

[Picture Caption]

1) A front view of the Artists' Cabin. 2) The seats outside the Cabin are an ideal place for friends to sit and talk. Lung Chun-er is seen here with film star Cheng Kuo-chi. 3) Her wispy smile gives Lung Chun-er an air of mystery.

1) Lung Chun-er and her daughter An-chi. 2) Kuan Yung and Lung Chun-er are not just business partners but lovers as well. 3) Kuan Yung often sits in the shop and likes to serve customers himself. 4) Comfortable seats and works of art in a corner of the cabin. 5) The Cabin has been carefully designed, built entirely of wood, with paper umbrellas used to cover ceiling lights. 6) Pottery, wood carvings, paintings and works of folk art on display in the Cabin.

1) & 2) Pictures taken by Lung Chun-er, at left "Fishermen", at right "Boy in the Rice Paddies". 3) In traditional costume, Lung Chun-er has the appearance of a heroine.

The seats outside the Cabin are an ideal place for friends to sit and talk. Lung Chun-er is seen here with film star Cheng Kuo-chi.

Her wispy smile gives Lung Chun-er an air of mystery.

Lung Chun-er and her daughter An-chi.

Kuan Yung and Lung Chun-er are not just business partners but lovers as well.

Kuan Yung often sits in the shop and likes to serve customers himself.

Comfortable seats and works of art in a corner of the cabin.

The Cabin has been carefully designed, built entirely of wood, with paper umbrellas used to cover ceiling lights.

Pottery, wood carvings, paintings and works of folk art on display in the Cabin.

Pictures taken by Lung Chun-er, at left "Fishermen", at right "Boy in the Rice Paddies".

In traditional costume, Lung Chun-er has the appearance of a heroine.

Pictures taken by Lung Chun-er, at left "Fishermen", at right "Boy in the Rice.