China
Presentation for the 2005 Yokohama Triennale
(2005.09.28 - 12.18)
Yao Jui-Chung, Public，video installation (Taiwan),
1997
"Public" is a work that Taiwanese artist
Yao Jui-Chung has continuously ongoing project conducted in places
around the world where Chinese people are present (Chinatown)
since 1997.
The artist sensitively grasps the fact that for
the most part, Chinese people around the world all choose a bizarre
method to construct their own spaces. Within this unique space
which has been painstakingly carved out, there exists both the
historical memory of the newest immigrants, and also mixes with
the transplanted regional cultural characteristics. And Chinese
people preserve both a distance between the local culture, as
well as drawing clearly a distinction between the previous cultural
world within this self constructed living space. Within this complicated
micro-society, identity, regionalization, and internationalization,
these ambiguous problems manifest themselves in a type of resistance,
acquiescence, dependence, as well as a mutual dissolution of culture.
"Public" is a nation building concept
with strong idealism raised by the founder of the new Chinese
Republic revolution, Sun Yat-sen, and has been used by the early
people of Chinatown as a reclusive strategy of political homologous.
The artist uses a direct method to enter into the distinction
of these thoughts. However, what is implied is that as the artist
attempts to search for these answers, he himself is also inverted
by these questions. Chinatown, politics, culture, Yao Jui-Chung,
within this moment have all been sandwiched within an enclave.
Perhaps this is the cunning of the artist, or his charm.
The artist will create a mobile shooting range composed
of photo images that will be oppositional to and outside of the
Long March - Chinatown" project space. Audiences can use
a air power M9 pistol to shoot at the images. His video works
will be installed within the Long March - Chinatown space, becoming
an integral and inseparable part.
