Taiwanese contemporary painter and conceptual artist Michael Lin (林明弘), who is known for his site-specific installations inspired by Hakka floral prints, has been invited by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Toronto to present intricate paintings that transform the gallery's entrance floor from Nov. 8, 2020 to Mar. 28, 2021.
As a response to the distancing requirements created by COVID-19, Lin's installation "Archipelago" provides an optimistic and energetic visual impact for the museum, the MOCA says.
"Transforming the institutional architecture of the public museum, his unconventional paintings invite visitors to reconsider their usual perception of those spaces, and to become an integral part of the work, giving meaning to the museum's potential as an area for interaction, encounter, and re-creation," according to the museum.
At MOCA, the museum says, the conceptual artist will present platforms consisting of painted surfaces adorned with patterned motifs taken from Taiwanese, Indonesian, and quasi Hawaiian textiles.
Similar to his monumental painting installations in Australia and the Netherlands, Lin's murals at MOCA is a joint work by a total of 15 Canada-based inspiring artists under mentorship from Lin and his studio. The painting process was open to visitors throughout October.
Now based in Taipei and Paris, Lin constantly challenges the conventional idea of arts by creating works that "can be stepped, sat, and laid on." His transformative paintings have been exhibited in major art institutions and international Biennials around the world, including the 4th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial and Palais de Tokyo in Paris.
Since its establishment in 1999, the MOCA Toronto has presented artworks by 1,100 artists and launched 200 exhibitions, attracting 40,000 visitors annually. The museum has increasingly focused on artists from Asia since 2020 when Kathleen Bartels, who has abundant experiences in working with artists from the Middle East, was named its CEO.
In addition, November Paynter, MOCA’s director of programs, has worked with a significant number of artists from across Western Asia during her 15 years in Turkey. Lin is the second Asian artist to be invited to showcase his artworks at MOCA.
'Archipelago'
Date: Nov. 8, 2020 – Mar. 28, 2021
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto
Address: 158 Sterling Rd. Toronto ON, Canada