Asian Art Report: January 2007 - Contd...
tutoK – a project with meaning.
I am astounded by the energy of the tutoK project, launched in November 2006. A broad network of Filipino artists advocating human rights, Tutok Karapatan (TutoK) seems to be gaining momentum rather than flagging, opening their second exhibit this month (part of a series of three) pointed at the political killings in the Philippines. Dubbed Perspektiba 2, itfeatures works by young edgy artists – their work carrying their passion. Showing at the Amrhein Gallery, St. Scholastica’s College (Metro Manila), Perspektiba 2 will conclude on 22 January with a forum and live performances lead by multi-media artist Jose Tence Ruiz and painter Iggy Rodriguez, who heads the artists’ group UGATLahi, and Lito Mondejar speaking in reaction. The forum will be moderated by painter Karen Ocampo Flores, TutoK’s project director. Multi-media artist Mideo M. Cruz has been the lead curator for Perspektiba. To give you the background – “TutoK was formed in late 2005 after an artists’ workshop in Quezon City on women, art and healing as a response to what the participants described as the “deteriorating” human rights situation in the country. Based on data from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), there have been more than 800 victims of extrajudicial killings from January 2001 – when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed power through a popular revolt – to December 2006. At least 340 of the victims are confirmed to have been affiliated with cause-oriented groups, Karapatan data further show. Meanwhile, Karapatan has recorded more than 200 cases of forced disappearances for the same period.” (source Tutok)
Carver’s Paintings – a trip better than speed
A kick show to catch this month is Matthew Carver at TAKSU Singapore. I was lucky enough to see the early stages of these works during his residency at the Taksu studio in Kuala Lumpur, and will catch the show when it opens in Singapore in February. They are dynamite paintings … The Saatchi Collection also felt so, snapping up Carver’s work from his MA show in London. Carver’s huge paintings approach Asia’s modern cities with the frenetic pace of dazzling night lights, traffic jams and neons blurred with speed. The distortions draw from the practice of anamorphic painting, a history that goes back centuries, which Carver overlays with today’s digital photography manipulation. His paintings are caught between time, memory and illusion. Showing 8 February through 7 March for more visit www.taksu.com
Red door open
Beijing’s Red Gate gallery has been the bastion of contemporary practice for more than a decade opening its door to many artists visiting China. This month’s exhibition “Open Door” is a group show of resident artists including Australians Kim Vernon and Pam See. Also included are Deng Yifu (Guangdong), Hu Shengping (Fujian), Liang Yue (Henan), Sun Guojuan (Yunnan), Tamae Akimoto (Japan) and Zhou Jun (Jiangsu). Exhibition continues through 11 February for more visit www.redgategallery.com Red Gate’s residency has rolling deadlines throughout the year for applications.
Ise’s 90-day outing journeys from Sydney to KL
Ise was the Australian High Commission’s resident artist for 2006 staying at Sydney’s Gunnery Studio during which time he produced a site-specific installation at Sydney Gallery 4a. His exhibition at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, carrying the same title “Keluar 90 hari” (90 day outing) is a visual diary of his Sydney experience. Opening 18 January, where I believe Simryn Gill is doing the honours, the show will continue through until February. Applications are currently open for The 2007 Australian High Commission Visual Arts Residency enabling an emerging to mid-career Malaysian artist to take up residency from 1 October – 9 December at the Gunnery. Applications close 23 February and the successful recipient will be announced in April.
The Wire: Cultural Podcast of the 21st Century
Presented by Art Singapore, 'The Wire: Cultural Podcast of the 21st Century' is a cultural podcast initiated by Simon Petre and Woon Tien Wei for The Danger Museum (Singapore). It is a project responding to the lack of independent media coverage during the Singapore Biennale and consists of four downloadable ‘wire episodes’. Definitely worth a ‘check-out’ to get the alternate voice. Visit http://www.server-foundation.org/wire to download, or visit The Danger Museum at http://www.dangermuseum.com
What’s the future of future prospects?
It has been touted that Future Prospects, that grunge indie space in Manila’s city of Cubao, will be closing on 31st January. A sad loss, but like most things in this punchy alternative scene they tend to re-invent themselves, so some say it is not the end. Future Prospects evolved out of the spaces Surrounded by Water and Big Sky Mind set up by artists Luisito ‘Louie’ Cordero, Gary-Ross Pastran, Mizuki Endo (visiting Japanese curator) and Cocoy Lumbao in 2005. Stay tuned with their website to see if they go virtual in the interim, www.futureprospectsph.com
Beyond Foreordination
Art Seasons Singapore always put on a slick show in their gorgeous space. During January they present photography from China, Hong Kong and Singapore over the past decade – a period of great energy and re-invention within the region. Including Singaporean photographer Francis Ng; Hong Kong artist Chow Chunfai, who re-imagines Leonardo's 'Last Supper' raising questions of religion and cultural-specificity; the celebrated Chinese artist Ma Liuming, best known for his performance on the ruins of the Great Wall - Art Seasons will exhibit the collage of photographs documenting that performance; and works by Mu Chen & Shao Yinong (currently showing in APT5s presentation of the Long March Project). Also included are Chen Qiulin's immortalized 'Tofu Surnames', evocative images of hundreds of blocks of carved tofu lining a never-ending road and Tian Taiquan's veiled critique of the Cultural Revolution, 'Forgetting'; and lastly, new kid on the block, Zhang Peng who makes a transition from his decadent paintings to photography picking up on the distortion of chastity and youthful innocence. Showing until 16 February, for more visit http://www.artseasons.com.sg
Indian art in Singapore
Bodhi Art Singapore has a great line-up to start the year. Currently showing Nataraj Sharma's new body of work completed during his residency at the Singapore Tyler Print Institute in 2006, Sharma will be followed by Akhilesh opening 8th February. Remember to check out Bodhi’s new space on Unity St, Singapore and visit their sensational website - www.bodhiart.in
… and Indian art at Danks St
Jitish Kallat’s exhibition “Rickshawpolis Part 3”, together with “The Devotee Exhausts the Forces of Activity” – a group of young, female artists from Indian, Pakistan and America living in Asia – opens at Gallery Barry Keldoulis, Sydney 17 January. Kallat’s series combines painting, sculptures and photos elaborating upon the theme of degradation and hysteria in the urban maelstrom. The eclectic group includes artists Mala Iqbal, Yamini Nayar, Prajakta Pallav, Seher Shah and Aditi Singh. Visit www.gbk.com.au
Roberto Robles @ SLOT
Roberto M. Robles is an enigmatic artist, a Filipino who has worked in the United States as well as Japan and Korea. He is like many of his countryman cognizant of both an Asian and Euro-American sensibility through their art making. Robles seems to be working in an environment that could be described as "already cross-pollinated", moving effortlessly between traditions with sufficient delicacy to avoid dogma. His paper installation at Redfern’s SLOT window gallery, “From the old Pond, I Ponder”, combines these fused aesthetics with sensitivity, asking us to pause a moment … to ponder. Robles shows with Galleria Duemila in Manila and is most know for his zen marble and steel sculptures. This piece in SLOT was shown in 2006 with a new body of paintings at Duemila. For more visit www.galleriaduemila.com or www.slot.net.au
Moving Castle – Four City Exchange
Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei – four cities of rapid development where demolition, renovation and urban renewal dominate their skylines and erodes memories. It seems like an unconscious violence that stretches like a cancer to the environment, traditional culture and value systems. “Streets and architecture have lost their appropriate proportions, leading to a blindfold of aspiration for modernization. A city is imprinted with its numerous birthmarks – like Beijing’s Hutong, Taipei’s Japanese-style alleys and Macau’s Portuguese-style architecture - they become our memories.” Nine artists explore the city as a contemporary site of flux in “Moving Castle”, showing at the Old Ladies' House Art Space, Ox Warehouse, Macau until 21 January. Visit http://oxwarehousenews.blogspot.com/
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