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Exploring themes of confrontation
Two French artists have taken part in a project organized by the Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau and several city galleries to pressent their works
By Gavin Phipps
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Aug 24, 2003, Page 19
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An Untitled work by Jacque Bosser.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAIPEI ARTIST VILLAGE
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Confrontation is the order of the day at the Taipei International Arts Village (TIAV, 台北國際藝術村) in the coming weeks thanks to a joint exhibition by two French artists whose works blend the mediums of paint, digital imagery and photography to create their altercated worlds.
In what organizers hope will be a series of shows, the current exhibition is part of an on-going project entitled "Art and Business in Taipei."
Organized by the Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau in conjunction with several of the city's leading galleries, the project is aimed at encouraging local businesses to finance the arts. For the project's inaugural show Uni-President Enterprises Corp (統一企業) has donated NT$1.5million.
Featuring works by Jacques Bosser and Philippe Hurteau, the contrasting styles might, at first glance, appear far removed from one another, but both works pursue the underlying theme of conflict.
Describing himself as "basically a painter," Hurteau's works see the Frenchman toying with a combination of digital imagery as well as images from traffic cams and TV news.
Entitled Taipei Cam, the artist's first Taipei related work is based on a project he first created in Paris. Hurteau has localized the theme, however, and used Taipei City traffic cam captures and stills from local TV news to create his work.
The themes of Hurteau's rather complex works are twofold. The first sets out to show the confrontation between contemporary imagery and painting; while the second poses the question: Where does an individual stand in the world today?
Unlike his fellow countrymen, Bosser doesn't use distorted imagery to portray his vision of confrontation. Instead, by mixing photography with art, Bosser sets out to show the tension between the past and the present in a less radical and subtler manner.
In order to evoke the viewer's personal memories of the past the artist employs a black and white photo of naked models with their faces hidden and bodies posed in a twisted and contorted stance. The present is symbolized by the abstract painting that sits amid the photographs and which, according to the artist, "represent the work's energy."
Taipei International Arts Village is located at 7, Beiping E Rd, (台北市北平東路七號). Telephone (02) 3393 7377. The gallery is open from 10am until 6pm, Tuesdays through Fridays. The joint exhibition will run until Sept. 10.
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