Chi-Wen Gallery, a Taipei-based art gallery, made its third appearance in Frieze New York at Randall's Island Park on May 4.
As the only gallery from Taiwan to be invited by the 2017 edition of the art fair, the gallery also entered the Main Section for the first time this year, showcasing works by Taiwanese artists Chang Chien-chi (張乾琦) and Chen Yin-ju (陳瀅如).
Chang, a Taiwanese photographer and member of Magnum Photos, presented his latest video film documenting dialogues with his mother who was born in 1938 — "The War That Never Was, 2017.”
The video, with narration of "You and the Atomic Bomb” taken from George Orwell's "1945” as the background score, shows Chang listening to his mother, who has lived in mountainous central Taiwan her whole life, talk about her past and historic incidents such as the 38-year-long martial law era that defined post-war Taiwan.
Chang's video, black-and-white photographic works, and the reference to Orwell's "You and the Atomic Bomb” drew numerous audiences during the fair.
Chen, a visual artist whose works often explore issues of racism, collective consciousness, and nationalism, presented "Extrastellar Evaluations, 2016 (超星鑑定)” for the first time in New York.
"Extrastellar Evaluations, 2016” featured a series of installations, paintings, and photographic works re-scrutinizing social and visual art issues and reflecting on today's global phenomena through her interpretation and imagination of occultism and astronomy.
Previously, Chang had participated in Frieze New York for two consecutive years, while Chen had participated in Frieze London last year. By connecting their works together with the theme of contemporary Taiwan history, Chi-Wen Gallery's exhibition received positive feedback in New York.
Established in London in 2003, Frieze Art Fair is an international contemporary art fair that takes place in London every October. It expanded to New York in 2012, and has since played a leading role in New York's art scene.