Building Code Violations

2006.04.08－2006.05.16

Anonymous Project, 21 Go, metal chessboard installation, video; 2005

The artist chose to remain anonymous for this project not to shirk responsibility for the “violation”, but more likely it was to break down the rule that artworks must have authors. The work adds one more line to the Go chessboard, but without changing the rules of the game. One mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, and Japanese youth were invited to play a round robin match on this chessboard. The video shows live match play in the Yokohama Chinatown parking garage. The “strategizing” behind chess itself has a political flavor. The works gives expression to a sensitive and seemingly hopeless political and economic issue in the Asia Pacific region, as well as the relationship between the interests of all three sides within an apparently whimsical game. This is a chess match without beginning or end that cuts between our normal and traditional understanding. The addition of one additional line is a positive and optimistic proposal – and not superficial satire – attempting to provide a cultural solution to one of the most complex political conflicts of our contemporary world.

View of the gallery