Join us at Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB) in Taipei for a talk on two newly launched archives, or watch it livestreamed on YouTube.
The evolution of contemporary art in southern Taiwan can be traced through the transformative journey of 64 Dayong Road in Kaohsiung. Starting in the 1980s as the Avant-Garde Promotion Centre, it later housed Up Art Gallery (1990–95) and Sin Pin Pier (1997–). This four-storey building has remained a pivotal landmark in the region’s artistic development, serving as a nexus for artists, exhibitions, and a diverse range of creative practices. The site provides a lens through which we can explore the evolution of modern and contemporary art in Kaohsiung, and gain insight into its unique “southern perspective” within Taiwan’s contemporary art landscape.
AAA Researcher Nicole Wang introduces the first two collections from the Independent Art Spaces of Taiwan project: Up Art Gallery Archive (1990–95) and Sin Pin Pier Archive (1997–). Together they comprise over 2,300 records, offering an insightful perspective of Kaohsiung’s contemporary art history. The archives include valuable materials related to exhibition histories, such as the Kaohsiung Contemporary Art Exhibition II (1991), which sparked critical discussions on the city’s contemporary art scene, and Exile and Banishment (1993), a pioneering exhibition that delved into the concept of themed exhibitions. The archives also feature a rich assortment of curated exhibition materials by artist Lee Jiun-Shyan, a founding member of Sin Pin Pier, enriching understandings of current historical narratives.
Assistant Professor Hsu Yuan-Ta from the Department of Art History at Tainan National University of the Arts, and two founding members of Up Art Gallery, Mu Tsan and Sheu Tzu-Kuey, will be in discussion. Based on the newly collated archival documents, they will share their insights and observations on the development of art history in Southern Taiwan.
This event will be held in Mandarin.
Organiser
Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB)
Joint Organiser
Asia Art Archive
Sponsor
Kwang Hwa Information and Culture Center