Exhibition      “Through”-- Biao-Jun-yi’s Sculpture Solo Exhibition
 Date            6.24 – 7.12,2009
 Reception       6.27(Sat) 3pm-5pm
Venue          Aki Gallery
 Address        141, Min Tsu W. rd., Taipei, TAIWAN
 Phone          +886-2-2599-1171
 Contact         www.akigallery.com.tw / aki.taiwan@akigallery.com.tw

“When making my works, it is not enough for me to crave or color the sculpture, something seems to be missing. From an unsatisfied point, I started to grind the surface of the stone until it becomes very thin, so the light can go through it.”
Biao Jun-yi

As the one of very rare and talented young sculpture artists, Biao Jun-yi always emphasizes on combining the characteristic of stone and the effects of light in his work. The illumination come through the stones gives a partition between inside and outside, while it also manifests the metaphysical meaning behind the well-formed art works. Like the Jesus’ halo, what Biao intends to bring to the viewers is not only the pleasure of seeing a nice object, but also a hiding concept or atmosphere generating from this object, perhaps peaceful and faithful, perhaps tricky and ominous.   

Biao’s works not only demonstrate his philosophical thinking but also show a young man’s humors, such as a giant stone-made “Used condom” hanging on the ceiling seriously, challenging the acceptances of viewers, and reveling the emotions of after sex lost and the lover’s needs of attention. The work “Look through” is a set of transparent Chinese Mah-jong, so the players can look through each other’s card directly, as well as the gambler’s intention. As such, you will never feel bored from seeing Biao Jun-yi’s works. 7 interesting pieces of stone sculptures will be showing in Aki Gallery from 24th June to 12th of July.

Big tree female 210*105*60 CM painting on Iron


Having adream is beautiful. I have been living in Taiwan since I was born, on this island Formosa,without ever going abroad, so have an undivided relationship with this land. I always have a sense of mission in my heart-I hope to help make Taiwan ever more beautiful and unique. My head full of ideas. I like to draw and have kept a diary in pictures since graduating from Ming-Tao. As time went by, I gained more insights. My persistence and interest in my heart would transcend the condition of Taiwan of the day. I wish to see beautiful people,events and things everyday,but this society usually is without anyobvious changes. In the last ten years, I opened nine stores,which people felt were different, but only recently have I come to understand theimportance of the concept of space. I’ve held the ideal of living for art for the last ten years. By chance, I eventually put on the of an artist, when I was at Railway Warehouse 20. I became known as an “artist” reluctantly, as I couldn’t help feeling that artistic creation comes from within yourself,your soul,vot from something unnatural. As this ago of technology advances, our culture emphasizes speed. However,such a fast pace suffocates us and people’s original souls become clouded by exterior appearances. Society is sick and so is the art world. Artistic creation is surrounded by a system that also traps the creators of art. It seems we have to follow the rules, but this will limit art’s freedom.As a result, I keep form and rules out of my work. I devote my heart and mind to what I see around me and use my eyes and hands to depict my feelings. 

Artistic activities across the Taiwan Strait underwent a considerable shift since the end of 1980’s; the shift manifested itself in the areas of artistic mediums, forms, concepts and philosophies. In particular, contemporary artists across the Strait have expressed their sensitivity toward the changes in environmental and social milieus in their creative self-awareness.

The exposition is themed, “speak/describe” to translate the modern social context into a unique artistic discourse by way of creative thinking and diversified mediums. The acts of speaking and describing take turn with each other to be the centerpiece and communicate with one another, allowing various renditions to transpire during the viewing process, inspiring them to ponder the changes in this time and age. Additionally, by means of using “speaking/describing” as the centerpiece for cross-strait contemporary art renditions and dialog, the diversified development and unique texture can be aptly embodied in the narrative process, to feed off on each other and expand the widths of humanistic perspective.

Sissi Garassat, FARASSAT, mosque, 2006, color photograph with sequins, 57x85cm. Courtesy Galerie Kashya Hildebrand


A number of art fairs are scheduled to be held in Asia, starting with Art Dubai on 18th March. The art market saw a great lifting the past few years, but has been obstructed by the economic crisis that struck the world at the end of 2008. In November 2008, Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy and sold approximately USD 8,000,000 worth of artworks for primary and due to the long-term economic recess, many collectors are presenting quite a number of large masterpieces at auction houses. When the economy is in recess, collectors turn to art auctions and art fairs instead of galleries to buy artworks at reasonable prices in fair systems. Seoul Auction has recorded 83.6% sales with the total earning of KRW 1.18 billion at its first auction this year. It is a good start. The art citizens of the world are paying attention to the outcomes of Asia’s art fairs.  Hyun Kim

Art Dubai 2009
Focus on Art Dubai 2009’s Abraaj Capital Art Prize, Mapping Palestine, Global Art Forum and Art Park Project. A significant highlight of this year’s fair will be the unveiling of the works of the recipients of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize. The prize provides an exciting opportunity for creative collaboration between international curators and artists from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. The Global Art Forum plays host to a series of lectures and discussions featuring leading contemporary art thinkers such as: Sheikh Abdulla Al-Thani, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Anish Kapoor, Daniel Birnbaum, Solomon R. Jerome Sans etc. The forum continues to create links between East and West through the exploration of professional and public interests in art. Mapping Palestine is a project curated by Samar Martha of Art School Palestine, which takes place in three different locations. Art Dubai’s project space Art Park is situated in the underground car park at the Madinat Arena and will be a cutting-edge space focusing mainly on film and video, reflecting the current vibrancy of these art forms in the Middle East. Art Dubai 2009
will be held during 18th-21th March 2009 at Madinat Jumerirah, Dubai
www.artdubai.ae

YOUNG ART TAIPEI (YAT)
YOUNG ART TAIPEI 2009 in an attempt to not only integrate the large art collecting and investing force in the market, but also create further connections amongst the art collecting groups in Asia. Due to an open economic policy towards free funding flows and a low 5% business tax, Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan provides a perfect environment and a convenient channel for international galleries to promote their own artists. Therefore, during 7th-10th May 2009, YAT will invite up to 40 high quality international galleries in Asia. Through the partnership with Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei, YAT offer a sophisticated and elegant venue, as the platform for all participating galleries, curators, artists, collectors and audiences.
YOUNG ART TAIPEI (YAT) presents a brand new experience of arts. As the first hotel art fair targeting contemporary art in Taiwan, YAT has attracted attention from Asian countries?such as Korea, Japan, and China. With the mutual desire to create a communicational platform among contemporary galleries, young artists and potential collectors, many established galleries as well as emerging galleries have already showed their anticipation in participation. Aside from the fact that collectors from Taiwan take an indispensable role in the Asian art market, the economic policy of Taipei City also allows a perfect environment and a convenient channel for international galleries to promote their own artists. The absence of boundary in artistic circulation thus creates more possibility here. While everyone is in search for a new trend of art in a new era, YAT holds a strong faith in youth, in vitality, and in diversity. Let us expect that artworks cultivated from different cultures sparkles Taipei City with each unique flavor. YAT will be held during 7th-10th May 2009 at Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei.
www.youngarttaipei.com

101TOKYO
The 101TOKYO Contemporary Art Fair appointed Jason Jenkins as Director and Haruka Ito as Creative Director of 101TOKYO 2009. Jenkins is a freelance creative consultant who frequently writes about music and art. Ito is an independent curator and currently gallerist for Tokyo's magical, ARTROOM. Show management of 101TOKYO 2009 will be handled by Loufas Co. Ltd.(http://loufas.co.jp), an event production company experienced in organizing symposiums and trade shows for clients such as Worldwide Yamaha Motor Co., Warner Brothers, Rody and Catimini. "Last year was proof that Tokyo is hungry for a small, jury-selected fair that concentrates on quality contemporary work created here in Japan as well as beyond our shores,'' says Jenkins. ''Our goal for 2009 is to build on last year's success by providing a place for creators, collectors and art lovers to discover new talent and new perspectives." 101TOKYO Contemporary Art Fair 2009 will take place in AKIBA_SQUARE's spacious location in the heart of Tokyo's ''Electric Town'' district, during 2th-5th April 2009.
www.101tokyo.com

<A Rabid Dog in the City> is Chen Li-An’s first solo exhibition since 1997. Chen has accumulated his personal experiences and creation record these years. His views of space and time are amplified by traditional sculpture education and new technology training.
“Human body” is always the topic that Chen, Li-An interested in. It is quite effective way to communicate at the same time. Chen uses the words which are from old Chinese poetry to be the title of his works. <Zi-Zai-Fei (Unrestrained Flying)> shows people should be free like birds’ flying but they can’t be just because of the current political situations and ideologies. <Du-Yi(Differences Only)> means that although common people have gorgeous appearances, they still feel confused in the future actually. By using old words to mock nowadays, Chen, Li-An wants to show us what he wants to show.



<Shi-Wei(The Taste of World)>, Chen, Li-An, 69X36X45CM, Acrylic on FRP,  2009

However, we can also enjoy Chen, Li-An’s works easily. He applies gentle and bright colors to the 14 joints of human bodies which are recombined. The invisible lines which are from the sculptures extend continuously and sprawl into our brand noiselessly. <A Rabid Dog in the City> leads us to relish the unforgettable organ experience, meaningfully and impressively.

<Qian-Quan(Entangled and Tender Love)>, Chen, Li-An, 45X28X63CM, Acrylic on FRP, 2009


<A Rabid Dog in the City> - Chen, Li-An’s Sculpture Exhibition
Date: 2009.06.06~27
Reception: 2009.06.06(Sat.) 15:00
Venue: Dynasty Art Gallery (No.41, Loli Road, Taipei City, Taiwan)
Tel: +886-2-23770838
Fax: +886-2-23774030
http://www.dynastyart.com
dyart@ms46.hinet.net

Curator: Li,Shu-Pei
Artists: Fang,Wei-Wen. Yao,Rui-Chung. Du,Zhen-Ren. Wu,Song-Ming. Zhang,He-Min. Wu,Yung-Chieh. Ke,Ying-Ping. Liao,Yu-An. Lu,Mu-Ren. Chen,Jian-Rong. Lai,Jiu-Chen. Wu,Dong-Long. Su,Chih-Cheng. Lin,Hsin-Ying.
Venue: Kao Yuan Art Center, Kao Yuan University
Duration:2009.6.3-6.30
Opening: June 3, 2009
Introduction: 14：00-14：30pm, June 3, 2009
Opening Reception:14：30-15：00pm, June 3, 2009
Artists' Talk:15：00-16：30pm, June 3, 2009

Lo Chen Peng_Strawberry Generation_The Night Marching_Face like Scar_259X194cm 2009


Exhibition       Strawberry Generation Studio —Lo Chan-Peng solo exhibition
Date               5.30 –6.21, 2009
Reception       6.6(Sat) 3pm-5pm
Live Show       6/6-21，12:00-18:30，Lo Chan-Peng Painting Live show
Venue            Aki Gallery
Address         141, Min Tsu W. rd., Taipei, TAIWAN
Phone             02-2599-1171
Contact           www.akigallery.com.tw / aki.taiwan@akigallery.com.tw
 


Lo Chen Peng_Journal of Strawberry Generation 23_91x72.5cm_2009


The first solo exhibition of Lo, Chan Peng will shock us with his thriller-movie-like paintings. Mr. Lo is famous for superior realism style and document the trendy generation in Taiwan— Strawberry Generation. His astonishing painting skill and unique observation of the society won him many awards, including the Place of Kaohsiung Award 2008, more over, important collections by famous museums nationally in Taiwan. From Jun 6th to 21st , 12 noon to 18:30 pm, the artist will move his working studio and have “Painting Live Show” at the Aki Gallery. “Taiwanese Big Brother” or “Taiwanese Simple Life” is going to on air here in the Aki Gallery now.     

Strawberry Generation is a particular description for younger generation of Taiwanese who was born in 80s and 90s. The word Strawbery symbolizes the distinctive features such as pursuing glamour outlook, low tolerance for real life pressure and lack of self-identification which just like strawberry, due to the diversity of society phenomenal and special political situation. In this solo exhibition, Mr. Lo will cut out this unique generation- Strawberry Generation’s beautiful  skin, and showing their unknown, fragile and true inner feelings. Four series of works: Journal of Strawberry Generation, Cell Proliferation, the Beauty Ode and the last creation Strawberry Night Marching will all be presented in this program. 

It was wall-to-wall beautiful people on the 15th floor of the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel on Thursday for a special preview opening of the inaugural Young Art Taipei Exhibition. A fixture in most international cities, it is a bit of a wonder why it has taken Taipei so long to launch such an art fair, one tucked in cozy little hotel suites.

Admittedly, it may not be the best place to view art — the smell of so many oil paintings in one room can be overpowering — but this new venue offered just enough hipness and creativity, proving to be exactly what the local art market needs right now.

Young Art Taipei is the brainchild of event organizer, Natasha Lo (羅健毓), who worked closely with influential art dealers such as Galerie Grand Siecle owner Richard Chang (張學孔).

Chang was gracious at the opening event, greeting visitors to the exhibition as well as introducing local artists' works that he was exhibiting within Room 1543.

All of the 42 rooms on the upper floor of this hotel were occupied, the majority of which were rented to local galleries but a smattering went to those from China, Japan and South Korea.

Some turned their hotel suites into darkened, black light displays, while others simply spread out artworks on the bed and elsewhere. In one room, an inordinate number of people crammed into the bathroom for what appeared to be an intense art discussion.

Young Art Taipei distinguishes itself from established art fairs with its focus on contemporary and affordable works by young artists

By Ho Yi
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, May 06, 2009, Page 15

Collecting art may seem like an unaffordable luxury for the average office worker. But for the organizers of Young Art Taipei 2009, buying a piece of art should and can be made as easy as purchasing a laptop computer. Billed as the first contemporary art fair held at a hotel in Taiwan, Young Art Taipei aims to position itself as a venue where novice collectors and art dilettantes meet emerging artists whose work they can afford.

Organized by Taiwan Contemporary Art Link (台灣當代藝術連線), a group consisting of local galleries including Dynasty Art Gallery (朝代藝術) and Aki Gallery (也趣畫廊), the three-day event starts today at Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei (台北王朝大酒店) with 42 participating galleries from Taiwan, China, Japan and South Korea. As implied by the name, a hotel art fair showcases art in hotel rooms, where the space best accommodates small- to medium-sized pieces.

“This particular form of exhibition space encourages creative and unconventional approaches to arranging art works. One can be laid on a bed, hung on the wall or put in the bathroom. Small pieces like toy figurines can easily stand out as visitors inspect each part of the room,” the event’s chief organizer, Natasha Lo (羅健毓), explained.

The low cost for participating galleries — a mere NT$65,000 — also makes it easier for them to promote young and relatively unknown artists.

“To attend an art fair like Art Taipei, a gallery needs to throw in at least NT$500,000 to NT$600,000,” said Dynasty Art Gallery owner Frank Liu (劉忠河). “It is not economical for galleries to bring works that are priced at only NT$20,000. But if you lower the fee, young artists have a better chance to come to the front.”

At the hotel art fair, the key words are contemporary and young, and the focus is on art ranging from video and sculpture to installation and multi-media works by artists aged 45 and under. Prices are NT$8,000 to NT$100,000.

Though Taiwan’s contemporary artists have gained recognition on the international art scene, the market for their art didn’t take off here until three years ago. According to Liu and Galerie Grand Siecle owner Richard Chang (張學孔), the local art market traditionally has been dominated by oil paintings. Contemporary art works accounted for only a fraction of art on display as gallery owners and curators saw them more as museum pieces than works with commercial value. The rise of the Chinese contemporary art market over the past half-decade changed that, and made local collectors interested in contemporary Taiwanese art.

Many collectors turned to Taiwanese art because they believe the market for contemporary Chinese art is already saturated, Chang said.

“The market for Taiwanese art started to skyrocket about two years ago, but because of the global financial crisis, the bubble appears to have burst,” he said.

According to Chang, though most artists under the age of 45 have not had their work sold at auction houses, or on the so-called secondary market, which means their works are relatively affordable, these are the artists who are competitive when it comes to the international market.

“Figures like Chen Chieh-jen (陳界仁) and Michael Lin (林明弘) are always at top of the list when international art publications evaluate Taiwanese artists. Clearly, our strength lies in contemporary art,” Chang said.