3 March 2017
In March, the art month in Hong Kong, Asia Art Archive (AAA) presents a series of programmes ranging from a travelling library featuring 100 books that inspire artists, a virtual reality project by Nonny de la Peña to reenact artist Li Yilin’s iconic performance, a talk and exhibition of the multimedia project by Singapore-based artist Ho Tzu Nyen, to the collage party on the Ha Bik Chuen archive.
Courtesy of Michael Leung.
As the Cultural Partner of Art Basel in Hong Kong for 2017, AAA stages 'Under the Influence: Books that Inspire Artists' at the art fair. The travelling library features one hundred titles, from across multiple genres, chosen by artists at the invitation of AAA. For many art practitioners, research is a starting point for their work. In this context, books have the potential to spark an artwork. Audiences will also be able to explore personal stories related to the selections, and engage with artists and practitioners at events held at the booth during the fair. After debuting at the art fair, this library will travel to secondary schools in Hong Kong, circulating these ideas to new audiences.
Courtesy of the artist.
Held concurrently at Art Basel in Hong Kong is a virtual reality project by Nonny de la Peña for AAA’s special programme series, 15 Invitations. Recognised for using cutting edge technologies to tell both fictional and news-based stories that create immersive, empathic engagement on the part of viewers, Nonny de la Peña draws from the AAA collection to create a new iteration of 'Safely Manoeuvring Across Lin He Road' (1995), a significant performance by New York and Beijing based artist Lin Yilin. In the initial performance, Lin built a wall of bricks in the middle of a busy roadway in Guangzhou, forcing cars to detour around him. For the project, de la Peña recreates the environment through an immersive virtual reality experience where participants take on Lin's role as roadside artist.
Courtesy of the Mori Art Museum.
On 24 March 2017, Singapore-based artist Ho Tzu Nyen will present his multimedia project ‘The Critical Dictionary of Southeast Asia, Vol. 1: G for Ghost(writers)’ at AAA. Starting with the question of what unites the region called Southeast Asia, Ho creates a ‘dictionary’ comprising narratives of shape-shifting and amorphous characters, ideas, and genres. The installation introduces the interactive internet dictionary created in collaboration with Pad.ma, Yasuhiro Morinaga, and Bani Haykal, 16 books written and edited by Gene Hanrahan, and Ho’s film about Hanrahan called The Name. In conjunction with the installation, Ho will take part in an artist conversation with AAA Researcher Chuong-Dai Vo, along with a light brunch from 10am–12pm. The exhibition of the project will run from 21 Mar–19 Aug 2017.
From 21–23, and 25 March 2017, The Collage Party by Winnipeg-based artist Paul Butler will be hosted at AAA’s Project Space in Fo Tan. Dedicated to the Ha Bik Chuen Archive, the space houses late Hong Kong artist Ha’s vast collection of collage books, exhibition documentation, and exhibition catalogues. The Collage Party is Butler’s experimental project where people are invited to create art together in a social setting. Participants will collage with print materials provided by AAA to cut, paste, and play as a community. The Collage Party has been staged at various venues in North America and Europe. This is the first time to be staged in Asia, and in the setting of an archive. This event is by booking only. To RSVP, please contact Michelle Wong at michelle@aaa.org.hk.