Eclectic island6 exhibit weaves eccentric aesthetic
Print Edition
AS soon as I stepped foot in island6’s current exhibition, “Tales of the Girl with the Blue Wig,” I felt like entering a world where its viewers were the “weird ones.”
Island6, run by the Liu Dao Art Collective, is an eclectic art group that highlights the convergence of art and technology, drawing contemporary art lovers since 2006.
Their works focus on interactive art installations rather than traditional techniques, and explore the effects of technology and modes of communication. This is what makes island6’s exhibitions so appealing.
Andras Gal from Budapest is the in-house curator of “Tales of the Girl with the Blue Wig” which involves seven artists in total and advocates the significance of Liu Dao’s art “being different” from mainstream art.
“Art shouldn’t have any functions beyond being good art within the world of other artworks,” says Gal. “Regarding Liu Dao, it’s extremely whimsical and entertaining. How could anybody not feel happy looking at these artworks?”
The purpose of the current exhibition is to make audiences realize that “aesthetic judgments cannot be singular.” The eccentric artworks have the ability to communicate with us the beauty of being different.
“I still believe in ‘l’art pour l’art’ (art for art’s sake),” says Gal.
That is what makes island6’s exhibitions worth a visit — its ability to retain a unique voice in Shanghai over the last 11 years, while maintaining a network that can be heard globally.
“Several members of the island6 are involved in the making of each artwork, using different techniques, including: painting, Chinese paper-cut, performance and computer animations. In my opinion, if you have seen it once, you would recognize their style instantly,” says Gal.
The interactive artworks are the most popular ones, especially “I Carved a Space,” created by Jiang Jun (performance), Ryan Nimmo (painting), Thomas Charveriat (art direction and technical guidance), David Poppell (sound design), Jean Le Guyader (documentation) and Yeung Sin Shing (production supervisor). It depicts a man in a dog house that starts barking when you approach the artwork — both shocking and unexpected.
Another outstanding work is “The Idea of Getting Out,” which uses LED display, Chinese paper-cut, paper collage and teakwood. Created by Tang Dashi and He Dashi (Chinese paper cutting), Yeung and Charveriat, it captures the girl with the blue wig trapped in a traditional Chinese vase, a metaphoric situation many of us will be able to relate to.
Lastly, “Cartoon City,” created by Jin Yun (painting), Yeung and Chaveriat, depicts the girl with the blue wig strolling on top of M50’s graffiti wall. It again uses teakwood frame, paper collage, LED display and also acrylic painting.
Island6’s current exhibition not only allows people to see the world in a more playful manner, but also from an unexpected angle.
Date: Through September 23, 11am-7pm
Venue: island6 Main Space, 2/F, Bldg 6, 50 Moganshan Rd
Tel: 6227-7856
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