La Galleria: No Cause For Alarm

Sponsored by Ministry of Culture, R.O.C. (Taiwan), Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York

Supported by Asia Art Archive in America, Hong Kong Trade and Economic Office (New York), Arts Development Fund of the Home Affairs Bureau, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Special thanks to Art Issue Projects, Brooklyn Artist Studio, Chi-Wen Gallery, Double Square Gallery

About No Cause For Alarm

No matter where you live, people living in the city are facing various kinds of stresses and pressures. It could be coming from the society, system, work, family, or simply ones’ own expectation. No Cause for Alarm is an exhibition trying to investigate the nervousness in contemporary city life. The exhibition is focusing on the possibility but not the situation itself, because ‘situation’ is a state of flux that changes from time to time and varies from place to place. There is no point to discuss the situation without thorough understanding of the causes and consequence. However, possibility implies potential and the unknown, which encourages imagination and creativity.

By understanding our own position in certain situations, we try to come up with suggestions and consolations, which aims to ease the tension as well as reducing the alert. Artists taking part in this exhibition are invited to meditate the current moment, unveil the overlooked in modern city life, and investigate the hidden conflicts in the vibrant metropolitan. There is no pre-established perception or criticism, we are not pessimistic and have no intention to satirize or ridicule our society. We are trying to suggest an alternative way of being from a witty and humorous perspective.

We are living in a skewed social structure where various established meanings, and different forms of active or passive resistance are all put up in response to our sense of existence. Artists making improper expressions under inappropriate occasions always render distinct interpretations from their own perspective when they face any institution. These artists propose diverse analysis of the dramas, strangeness, nonsensical dialogs and narratives of daily life. They also question the evolving nature of the “ecology of the art world.” Their humorous approaches of dealing with reality imply a way of co-existence.

Toying with familiar daily object and our common experience, Wang Ding-Yeh, Huang Yen Ying and Tang Kwok Hin are trying to examine what is generally accepted in the society. Tsui Kuang-Yu, Song Ta and Musquiqui Chihying investigate feasible ways of social intervention from various angles. They explore the boundary of urban environment and contemporary life, to disclose how habitual thinking in daily life influences the mode of thinking and behavior of the public. Su Yu-Hsien and Luke Ching Chin Wai respond to and question the political and cultural clashes in the city with a humorous manner. Chou Yu-Cheng, Ocean Leung and Yip Kin Bon are known for their practice of collage through various means. They piece together different social structures and perspectives; and patch up a reality, a conspiracy, a farce, or an imaginary future.

Participating Artists

Taiwan:

Chou Yu-Cheng

Hunag Yen Ying

Musquiqui Chihying

Su Yu-Hsien

Tsui Kuang-Yu

Wang Ding-Yeh

China:

Song Ta

Hong Kong:

Elvis Yip Kin Bon

Luke Ching Chin Wai

Ocean Leung

Tang Kwok Hin

Image: Musquiqui Chihying, The Jog, 2014, 2 Channel Performance Video, 1 inch each. Courtesy of the artist