Korean Air Box Project 2016: Yangjiang Group

Chen Zaiyan(陈再炎), Zheng Guogu(郑国⾕), and Sun Qinglin(孙庆麟), of Yangjiang Group, Yangjiang, China

Korean Air Box Project is a long-term project that organizes displays of installation artworks by renowned artists from around the world in Seoul Box, the central exhibition space of MMCA, Seoul. Celebrating the experimental spirit of contemporary art and presenting a new vision for the future, the project chose Yangjiang Group from China to be the next artists to showcase their works in 2016. Yangjiang Group(阳江组) was founded in 2002 by the three artists Zheng Guogu(郑国⾕), Chen Zaiyan(陈再炎) and Sun Qinglin(孙庆麟). The Group is best known for using calligraphy as the departure point for a variety of performances and installations, many ephemeral in nature, that explore issues of culture, society, economics, history, and tradition, with a particular focus on the impact of social action, as the title of the exhibition suggests. Their large-scale installation, moreover, came from their daily life in their hometown Yangjiang in Guangdong Province, China and diverse audience participatory programs have gained much international recognition. They have shown in many major international exhibitions including Gwangju Biennale (2002), Venice Biennale (2003), and Documenta (Kassel, 2007).

Yangjiang Group, “Calligraphy Is the Way to Communicate with the Most Primal Power,” 2016

Having demonstrated their art work in various international exhibitions, they have arrived in Seoul to share ideas and perform how “Calligraphy Is the Way to Communicate with the Most Primal Power.” Through calligraphy, the central theme of the group’s art works, express the ways in which the Chinese participate in daily social communication. Although the main event in this exhibition is the artist performances the museum space has committed to have the exhibition of the group until August 27th, 2017. The audience participatory performances such as After Dinner Calligraphy and Tea and Incense Ceremony will be held on February 18th (2pm – 3pm), May 13th (4pm – 5pm) and in the end on August 12th (4pm – 5pm). This exhibition is a display that shall not be missed, and if you have any commentary of the event, please feel free to comment below.

Source: ‘Timeout’, ‘E-flux’ and MMCA

Amiira Ismail – The AsiaN  Media Intern