Summertime and the viewing is easy

In the dog days of summer it is common for art galleries to shut down so that the gallery staff, artists and collectors can take a summer holiday. This, however, is not the case in Taiwan where there are plenty of shows to view.

Yao Jui-chung (姚瑞中) is a prominent artist, curator and writer working in Taipei and recently published the book Performance Art in Taiwan 1978 to 2004, which gives an in-depth look at Taiwanese performance art. He is also the curator for a series entitled Carefree-Taiwan Performance Art Relay that runs until Sept. 17 at the Taipei MOMA Gallery.

The second part recently opened and showcases the provocative work of performance artist Cheng Shih-chuan (鄭詩雋) and includes video documentation of some of his more eclectic performances that exploit the use of TV media. Also included are some sculptural installations and a glossy photographic series involving cigarette burns. Ouch!

Art's Diary: Intervene recently opened at the Taipei Artist Village (TAV) and runs until Sept. 18. The premise here is that art is an interface that connects the artist with the populace. The exhibiting artists, both Taiwanese and visiting artists, show diverse works but each artist shares the same idea of creating a warm interaction and a moving experience for the local audience.

Taipei-based Chen Cheng-tsai's (陳正才) Felicity Project is a happy one indeed. The local custom of wedding photos is much like performance art so Chen has invited 60 soon-to-be-wedded couples to shoot their wedding portfolios on site at TAV. He will make a VCD to give to the couple in exchange for participating in the project. In addition, he's asked people to submit three photos that show their happiness and which he displays on the wall.

Yeh Yi-li's (葉怡利) project is titled Kuso, a Manga word meaning "damn," which signifies the kitsch-type pop culture which is now trendy. For the opening of the exhibition, Yeh wore a bacterium-shaped white furry costume which looked like a post-nuclear bunny rabbit.

It is her intention to spread "Kuso bacteria" around the world so people will be free from stereotypes and learn not to readily accept mainstream values.

Maltese Norbert Francis Attard is no stranger to Taiwan as he exhibited at the Kaohsiung Container Festival in 2003. For his residency in Taiwan his project is titled Inventariums of the Intimate and is a collaboration with the local community.

Maria Rebecca Ballestra from Italy has an ironic video installation Post Mortem Human Resources. You can participate by signing a form that deeds her your body after your death in order to improve contemporary society. Even in death our bodies are a product, an object for consumption, the artist seems to say.