Introducing the Shin Leh Yuan Art Space Archive

Join us at C-LAB in Taipei for a talk on the Shin Leh Yuan Art Space Archive, AAA’s forthcoming Research Collection, or watch it livestreamed on YouTube.

Established during Taiwan’s vibrant art scene of the 1990s, Shin Leh Yuan Art Space (SLY) stands out as a pioneering institution that has continuously evolved its artistic endeavours over the years. Recognising the impact of curating as a powerful tool for engaging with artists and fellow art spaces, SLY has addressed pertinent social issues since the early 2000s with experimental and creative programming, serving as a pivotal platform for budding artists to kickstart their careers.

Taking inspiration from its previous iteration as Space Two, SLY inherited certain core concepts from the avant-garde space, such as the cooperative gallery format, a nonprofit approach to operations, and a culture of intellectual exchange. However, with the implementation of SLY’s biannual membership system, it has not only distinguished itself from Space Two, but has also allowed for continuous adjustment of its role and mission within the ever-changing art ecosystem.

During the talk, AAA Researcher Nicole Wang will introduce the Shin Leh Yuan Art Space Archive, scheduled for release in June. This ongoing archive comprises a wealth of materials from SLY’s first and second terms (1995–98), including exhibition archives, member profiles, administrative documents, and meeting records, along with valuable recordings of discussions and member interviews.

The talk will feature researcher Yu Wei, who published a compilation of SLY's documents in 2008 as Keep Going, Shin Leh Yuan; and Chang Ya-Ping, SLY’s current director. As SLY nears its thirtieth anniversary, this panel will reflect on how SLY can continue its journey and why its enduring presence is essential in Taiwan’s ever-evolving art landscape.

This event will be held in Mandarin. No simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

Image: Courtesy of C-LAB.

Yu Wei is a curator, art critic, and Assistant Professor at the Department of Sculpture, National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA), and was formerly Editor-in-Chief and Correspondent for ARTCO Monthly. His research focuses on post-war Taiwanese art and visual culture. From 2018 to 2023, he served as Senior Researcher, Director of Research, and Curator at the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB), curating various exhibitions and public programmes, including the 2023 C-LAB annual forum, “A Future Slowly Cancelled,” and the annual exhibition, Memory Palace in Ruins. He co-authored Shin Leh Yuan Keep Walking: Cultural Inheritance (Uni-Books, 2008). He graduated from the Graduate Institute of Art History and Art Criticism at Tainan National University of the Arts in 2003, and holds a PhD in Humanities and Cultural Studies from Birkbeck, University of London.

Chang Ya-Ping is an artist and Director of Shin Leh Yuan Art Space, and runs Working Ridge Line Studio. Her artistic practice primarily focuses on mixed media and spatial installations, exploring themes of social systems, resistance, and the dialogue between individuals and their communities. She participated in artist residencies at Art Stock 20 in Taichung, Taiwan; Kanazawa Art Port in Kanazawa; New Taipei Art Village; and Longtan Lingtan Street in Taoyuan. She holds a degree from the Department of Visual Communication Design at Chaoyang University of Technology and an MFA from Taipei National University of the Arts.

Nicole Wang is Researcher at Asia Art Archive, where she leads the Independent Art Spaces of Taiwan (IAST) project.

Organiser
Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB)