日期 Dates｜2020.9.25-10.18
地點 Venue｜台北國際藝術村，百里廳 Taipei Artist Village, Barry Room
文／韓慶玲
數千年前行星撞地球，造成白堊紀末期多數生物滅絕，恐龍也成為僅存於博物館中的存在；數千年後病毒寄生宿主，生物中最追求進步與發展的物種正為了不可見的非細胞型態入侵而走向死亡。
面對歷史的無限迴圈，不論是通過創造論或是演化論而生成的我們，如何面對未知，找尋存在的意義與價值。假如依循存在主義所述，人類在追求慾望的同時，遭遇到許多痛苦與挫折，當我們無力面對時，選擇逃避現實，但又因為我們相較其他生物對改變的渴望，無法停止追求，只能到更高層次的夢想與理想，痛著也快樂著，持續追尋對平等的權利、對未知的探索、對慾望的渴求、對自我的認同。
本次出訪藝術家前導聯展延續台北國際藝術村（Taipei Artist Village，簡稱 TAV）作為「台北藝術進駐」（Artist-in-Residence Taipei）的執行角色，透過藝術家出訪異地，進行短期駐村的踏查，穿透、轉化、暫離。展覽邀請原定於 2020 年秋天分別出訪英國曼徹斯特華人當代藝術中心、泰國國際藝術大學、韓國國立現代美術館高陽藝術工作室、韓國openspace bae的牛俊強、簡翊洪、黃孟雯與陳姿尹共同參與。四位藝術家延續自身創作經驗中持續關注的議題與方向，結合為駐村計畫所搜集的前期調查資料，呈現出想像與未知，透過出訪前的前導展覽，觀看藝術家真實駐村後的變化。
經驗是體驗、是觀察，在不長不短的人生中所獲得的心得加以應用於後續作業上，而這些以前、這些曾經，不論屬性，對於已知或未知的追尋來說，掌握著重要的關鍵。台北｜寶藏巖國際藝術村提供台灣藝術家出訪國外藝術機構交流的機會，藉由駐村體驗當地特有的文化及生活型態，對於創作無疑是珍貴養分與靈感來源，同時，藉由文化刺激給予創作生涯更豐厚的意涵，為觀者呈現更多元的視野。
而藝術之於現實，並非首要卻也需要，當人生出現神秘難解的習題時，試圖使用當代藝術的語言去梳理、去靠近，在這個適應「新常態」（New Normal）規則的此時此刻，我們一起等待，等待有機體間的有序連接，等待日常。
Text／HAN Ching-Ling
An asteroid struck Earth millenniums of years ago and triggered mass extinctions at the end of the Cretaceous Period; consequently, dinosaur sightings are now only caught in museums. Thousands of years later, a virus is actively seeking hosts, and the most progressive and development-driven species on Earth is dying because of this noncellular invasion.
Facing the infinite cycle of history, how should we, the human species, despite being the result of Creationism or the evolutionary theory, deal with the unknown and find the meaning and value behind our existence? According to the concept of Existentialism, when people are confronted by tremendous pain and defeat when they are seeking to fulfill their desires, some may choose to escape from reality because they feel helpless. However, compared to other living beings, humans have a stronger desire for change and can’t help but to chase after it. We can’t help but to seek higher dreams and ideals, and while in pain, joy is also experienced. So, we continue to pursue equal rights, explore the unknown, and have a thirst for desire and strive to attain self-recognition.
This artist exchange preliminary group exhibition is an extension of the “Artist-in-Residence Taipei” program facilitated by the Taipei Artist Village (TAV). The artists presented are arranged to partake in short-term residency exchange programs overseas, whereby they will temporarily depart and transform through immersion. On view in this exhibition are artworks by artists, Niu Jun-Qiang, Jian Yi-Hong, Huang Meng-Wen, and Chen Zi-Yin, whom were originally planning to respectively participate in residency programs in autumn of 2020 at the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art in Manchester, England; Silpakorn University in Thailand; Goyang Residency at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea; and Openspace Bae, Korea. Continuing to explore the issues and directions that they’ve focused on through their creative experiences, these four artists have integrated information that they’ve collected to prepare for the upcoming residency programs, and imaginative thoughts they have for the unknown that lies ahead are presented. This preliminary exhibition held before their departure provides an opportunity to allow the changes that the artists will go through before and after their residencies to be observed in the future.
Experiences come from what one goes through and also what one observes. The insights one garners throughout a lifetime are applied in the works that one goes on to produce. Regardless of what attributes they hold, the elements incorporated, which are derived from the past, are critical to one’s pursuit for both the known and the unknown. Opportunities for Taiwanese artists to engage in exchange programs with art institutions overseas are facilitated by the Taipei Artist Village & Treasure Hill Artist Village, and through the residencies, they are able to experience unique regional cultures and lifestyles, which will undoubtedly be valuable and creatively inspiring. At the same time, the cultural stimulants received will also give the artists’ creative journeys an enriched sense of meaning, which will result in artworks of diverse perspectives presented for the audience to see.
Art may not be a practical priority but it is, nevertheless, necessary. When faced with a mysterious and difficult to resolve challenge in life, we may perhaps try to examine it and get closer to it by using the language of contemporary art. In this moment in time when we are trying to adapt to the “new normal”, let us wait together for an order that will connect all living begins together; let us wait for the arrival of a sense of normalcy.