Technologically-based art is the latest rage in Taiwan. As a result the National Culture and Arts Foundation created the Techno Art Creation Project with the six winners for this first year's award currently exhibiting their diverse artworks in Vision and Beyond at the Hong-gah Museum.
Lin Shu-min's (林書民) Inner Force involves two participants wired to a machine that monitors their alpha brain waves. They can also engage in a type of meditation competition. Sitting across from each other, the calmer person often projects a more aesthetically pleasing image of a lotus blossom opening on the floor projection between them.
Wu Tien-chang
PHOTO COURTESY OF NCAF
The printed text of a traditional love spell -- which one would only resort to if depressed, desperate or completely mad -- is displayed next to a digitally enhanced studio portrait of garish figures.
Interactivity is also a recent phenomenon in Taiwan's art scene as many exhibitions promote such art. It is easily achieved by electronic means, just as motion or a light sensor can trip a video to play. Ultimately though, interactivity can be a rather shallow experience as it there is not so much give and take, but an experience rather akin to turning on a light switch.
Some of the interactive works on view include Lu Kai-tzu's
Wang Jun-jieh's (王俊傑) interactive piece unfortunately takes away from the powerful resonance of his images. Three video projectors are triggered by motion sensors, so if alone, seeing the work can be a frustrating experience as you can only see one of the projections play, rather than all three.
And these beautifully filmed images are riveting, giving a glimpse of a film noir-like narrative.
A man's cuffed hand slowly reaches for a door handle. A gun explodes in a puff of smoke. A dark red pool of blood deepens. A fruit stand of oranges glow with an inner light like alien creatures.
Sound artist Tsai Anchih's
In spite of its title implying that there is a beyond, none of the works with the exception of Lin's brain-wave driven work give a glimpse of visionary divination of the uses of technology for the future.
But perhaps that is the problem with technology. All these gadgets and computer programs seem to promise endless possibilities but in reality, can they deliver as much as a pencil can? In other words, these are just tools, the means by which we can deliver a great idea.
Exhibition notes:
What: Vision and Beyond
Where: Hong-gah Museum, 5F, 260, Dayeh Road, Qiyen MRT stop
When: To Jan. 1, and then to Taichung and Kaohsiung
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