The Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, in collaboration with the Jim Thompson Art Center and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, co-organizes the international exhibition “The Shattered Worlds: Micro Narratives from the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the Great Steppe.” Opened on Apr. 3, the exhibition features Taiwan-based Malaysian artist Au Sow-yee (區秀詒) and Taiwanese artist Yang Jun (楊俊).
Featuring 13 research-based artists from Southeast Asia and Eurasia, the exhibition re-examines the remnants and aftermath of the Cold War and traces how artists have engaged with micro-narratives that embody the complexity of each locality in relation to its historical contexts. It also highlights how these issues continue to resonate in contemporary reality.
Born in Malaysia and currently living in Taipei, Au Sow-yee presents “Still Alive,” a work inspired by three mysteriously disappeared or deceased figures, who are linked to the histories of Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand. This piece explores historical narratives through image and audio materials.
Yang Jun, an artist based in Vienna, Taipei, and Yokohama, presents “The Overview Perspective,” a work that takes inspiration from the term “overview effect” referring to some astronauts’ experience. The term describes a shift in the awareness of astronauts during their space flights when they view the earth whilst in orbit. The piece tells the story of ‘moving away’ from a scenario where the artist appears in his own performances and speaks about his own history in order to address broader social issues.
The exhibition runs through Jul. 6 in Bangkok. For more information, visit the Jim Thompson Art Center official website.