dAgraphik: { 各搞各的 : MOCA Taipei }

Recently I went to the exhibition, "各搞各的 : 鄙视当代" held in MOCA, Taipei (Museum of Contemporary Art).

It's my 2nd time there. I like the arts scene in Taiwan as I felt they are more open and experimental than in Singapore. Maybe because of the cultural difference of the two countries, Singapore being a rather conservative country and Taiwan is one with much Japanese influence. As a form of support to the local art scene, MOCA charges cheaply for the admission and the exhibition guide booklet costs only S$0.50.

各搞各的 : 鄙视当代 features some of the up-and-coming Chinese contemporary artists in China and Taiwan as well as artists from France, Holland, USA, England, Canada etc. A exhibition about Contemporary Arts - Is the exhibition suppose to reflect the art of the current moment, to have a unify theme? Or is art about individualism? 各搞各的 : 鄙视当代 attempts to unify 28 contemporary artists yet presents their uniqueness to the public, creating a complex spark between unity and uniqueness.

One of my favourite exhibit is a short video by 3Players (3P小组). Title of the video is called 相对论. The video showcases many individuals in pairs, of different age, background, gender and occupation. There were strangers, couples, siblings, families and old friends. They were asked to look face to face, eyes to eyes to each other for 3 mins without any conversation. Subtitles were shown featuring their thoughts throughout the 3 mins of silence. It's interesting to see how two persons of so much difference think of one another. One of th scene actually move me to my tears, it's about a Father and his Son. Both are ask to look at one another face to face for 3 mins.....

Son: my dad is always so stern, never had a decent look at him.....he look old and wrinkled
Father: *staring hard without a smile*
Son: why is 3 min so long? So uncomfortable.
Father: well, you think 3 mins is long? I had been looking at you for 30 years......

The exhibit makes me wonder about the relationship between ourselves and people around us. At times, we take it for granted the existence of people.... perhaps we are all too busy with life and forget to slow down to take a good look at the people we loved.