It seems that in Taiwan it is most certainly good to be born in the 80’s. From my trip so far there has been artists ‘a plenty’ to get excited about, nearly all born in the generation most brits try to forget (bad leggings and hair styles mostly – and I say this still wearing those shameful leggings today!). One absolute hidden treasure in North Taipei, is a group of artists and recently re-homed ‘Open Contemporary Art Centre’. In the space of 3 months they had transformed an disused government building into a simple, sleak and contemporary 3 floored art space, complete with experimental kitchen area (for cross disciplinary art and food projects to be explored), a work in progress residency space, workshop area, office and gallery.
Female artist LEE Jo-Mei introduced me to some of her previous works, including ‘Mangrove’ and ‘Ishigaka Jima’. Both video installation works, they dealt with similar isssues of identity; some known, some forgotten and some re-found. LEE seemed preoccupied with Taipei’s rich history and how this connects to her own. As an island once colonised by Japan, the artist is interested in the overlapping connections between one place and another, and how in fact this has and always will relate to her own family history. Intimate video works and sound pieces relating to stories between one place and another are repeating enquiries in her work. Beautiful and subtle pieces – which I was lucky enough to experience sat by the side of the artist in their gallery space.
Another artist, whose name may be more widely known since his recent apprearance in the Venice Bienniale is Hsu Chia Wei. His installation and video works are some of the most beautiful set design and cinematic scenes I have seen. By deconstructing production through exposing green screens, props and fake set designs, but still also using the real backdrop of his subject matter within every short, Hsu turns short film work into anyone’s cinematic joy! Dealing with minority and forgotten subcultures of Asian lands, simiar to LEE’s work, the artist eloquently explores the identity of others, but one very much close to home.
The 3rd artist I want to share with you is Wu Chi-Yu, whose work takes a completely different and quite light approach. He feels quite passionately in the open and fresh effects your work can have when you start to collaborate with others. I was lucky enough to see one such example. The work will be revealed at Open Contemporary Art Centre’s exhibition opening this Friday night, but all I can say is circus and drive through cinema meets 3D viewing and home dressing room cabinet! Using trickery of perspectives/ view points with playful kinetic sculpture results in one fantastic alternative personal free cinema house!
