"Isa Ho: Resonance – Westbeth Project (共振─魏斯貝絲計畫)," running from May 5 to 26, will showcase Isa Ho (何孟娟)'s decade-long project through a selection of works ranging from 2013 to the present. The exhibition includes photos, videos, and documentaries, as well as a new NFT installation created in collaboration with artist Chen Zhao-hua (陳肇驊). In addition, the exhibition will feature portraits of the artists in Westbeth Artists Housing alongside their works.
In 2013, Isa Ho, a Taiwanese digital and contemporary photographer, moved into Westbeth Artists Housing after receiving a New York Fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council. Inspired by the Westbeth residents' attitude toward creative work and their composure in the face of life's ups and downs, Ho decided to begin the Westbeth Project, photographing the building's spaces, taking portraits of artists in their apartment environments, and making audio-visual records of interviews. Ho said that "This exhibition embodies my memories, which I share with the artists. I captured the essence of these beautiful and powerful people in my own way."
Moreover, Ho added that it is especially thrilling to be able to bring this exhibition back to where it was born. "After the long three years of the pandemic, being able to return to Westbeth and meet the artists was a deeply emotional experience, with many artists having passed away. The sadness and longing had been reflected upon for a long time. Perhaps I will never see many of them again, but their works and stories continue to be passed down, still influencing the world. This may be the value of life and art."
Chang Huichun (張惠君), director of the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, noted that the exhibition is more than just a summary of Ho's photography project and interview records. It is also a demonstration of Taiwanese artists' concern for humanity and their desire to protect and preserve history beyond borders.
Westbeth Artists Housing was established in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Arts and the J.M. Kaplan Fund, which transformed the 13 buildings of Bell Labs into an artists' residence. Since 1970, Westbeth has provided artists with spaces to live and establish studios for life at preferential rates. This has made it a home for actors, writers, directors, painters, dancers, musicians, and other artists who have had a profound impact on New York's cultural life.
For more information, please visit the Westbeth Gallery website.