Art exhibition documents river life in Kaohsiung

2015/07/27

An exhibition spotlighting contemporary pieces created by 25 teams of artists from home and abroad is underway at Pier-2 Art Center in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan.

Organized by Hot Spring Project Studio, “Rivers—The Way of Living in Transition/Asia Contemporary Art Links” comprises installations works, paintings, photos and sculptures by talents from Taiwan, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. It is themed Environment and Urbanization, Metaphor of Water, Moving from a Place to Another and Stories of Rivers.

Event curator Wu Shang-lin said the title of the exhibition draws on the historical relationship of watercourses with civilization, as well as the influence of climate change and urban development in Asia. “Ever since the Industrial Revolution, humans have established cities close to rivers and depended on them for commerce, transportation and waste disposal.”

According to Wu, Kaohsiung was selected as host for the event on the strength of its longstanding ties with port-based agricultural and industrial development. “This history is imbued throughout the land and reflected in many of the pieces fashioned by artists in this region,” he said.

In the lead up to the exhibition, five of the 25 international teams lived in Kaohsiung for three months beginning in April and set about completing their creations based on observations, field studies and interviews.

Japanese artist Takahito Kimura visited six elementary schools near Kaoping River Basin. He worked with pupils on a piece incorporating realistic images of Kaohsiung and its ocean and mountains.

“Following the earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster of March 2011, I believe human beings must pay more attention to living in harmony with Mother Nature, Kimura said. “Hopefully, our works will help the public to see this is the best way forward.”

Echoing Kimura’s remarks, photographer Chen Bo-i said the Southern Cross-Island Highway in Taiwan regularly causes mudflows and landslides in surrounding area. “Although these events threaten the safety of drivers and residents, they also serve as inspiration for pieces enabling people to better appreciate the fragility of our environment.”

Shih Che, director general of Kaohsiung City Government’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs, praised the event and said since 2014 Pier-2 Art Center has promoted live-in programs for artists from abroad. “This initiative has enriched the cultural landscape and provided a wealth of opportunities for local artists to interact with and learn from their international counterparts.”

After wrapping up Aug. 30, the event will reopen in June 2016 at Gwangju Museum of Art in South Korea.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=232998&ctNode=413)