Exploring the issue of ‘protest’ in a wider sense, Asia Triennial Manchester, running until June 1 2008, aims to show new and exciting works that mirror views about Asia and Manchester and the links between them.
Shisha, the UK’s premier international agency for contemporary South Asian crafts and visual arts, conceived the idea behind the new international festival, which features artists from Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.
The idea of protest has been a starting point for individual artists in creating their exhibitions. This produced a variety of different views and perspectives, which reflect the social and political history of Manchester, as well as the views of Asia and Manchester in the 21st century.
Shisha has worked in partnership with Castlefield Gallery, Chinese Arts Centre, Cornerhouse, The International 3, Manchester Art Gallery and Manchester Metropolitan University, who will each host exhibitions.
Channel A and p-10 have been residing in Manchester in the run up to ATM08, and their site-specific work, developed during their time in the city, is on display at the Castlefield Gallery.
Channel A (Hongjohn Lin and Ella Raidel) from Taiwan is re-inventing the identity of 18th century bogus Taiwanese, George Psalmanaazaar, as an estate agent, exploring the notion of fantasy and property.
P-10 (Woon Tien Wei, Jennifer Teo working with collaborators Jeremy Chu and Kai Lam) from Singapore, are investigating ‘localness’ within the context of the international Triennial and Biennial. They created a symposium platform for on-going research purposes, whereby British-based artists can work in response to their locality.
Contemporary Korean artists Gwon Osang and Choe U-ram will be presenting their work at Manchester Art Gallery. Work from Osang’s first major UK solo exhibition will be on display from June 21 - September 21 2008, as well as his existing work ‘Control’ - on now - which is a project based on the musician Graham Massey.
Osang builds life-size sculptures of people using hundreds of photographic images to build up their features, creating a sculpture that resembles a human vacuum-packed in plastic.
‘Urbanus Female’ and ‘Urbanus Male’, by Choe U-ram, is on display in the gallery’s atrium until September 21 2008. Made from precision cut and polished metals, machinery and electronics, these giant robotic creatures have been inspired by plant and sea life.
Chinese Arts Centre is hosting a residency and exhibition programme. Running until Wednesday April 30 Chinese painter Mao Yan Yang is in residence.
His work revolves around the idea of the media, how it affects us and how much we believe about what we're told. By using Time magazine images, which he works into his art, he presents an alternative view of historical figures and events.
From Thursday May 1 – Sunday June 29, Kong Kee, the Hong Kong comic artist will be in residence. Continuing to explore his interest in social interaction, Kong Kee will be inviting Manchester’s elderly community to express their views about where they live.
Meanwhile ‘Contemporaneous’ is running until Saturday June 15 2008, showing ink animations by Chinese artists Chen Shaoxiong and Qiu Anxiong. The themes of people, cities and time are prominent in Shaoxiong’s work, whilst Anxiong is showing animations in response to the world’s potential energy crisis.
At the Cornerhouse, work by five female artists living in India is on display until Sunday June 1 2008. ‘What do you want?’ will present works by Tejal Shah, Jasmeen Patheja, Shilpa Gupta, Surekha and Shaina Anand, who are part of a group of artists that investigate the concepts of politics and activism.
The mediums of video, photography, performance, sculpture and new media are used to conceptualise problems that face Indian women in contemporary society, as well as recognising that other women from different cultures all over the world, experience the same problems.
Chinese artist, Han Bing’s work can be seen at The International 3 until Saturday May 31 2008. Bing’s work tends to question everyday living and the impact of human progress. Videos of Bing’s ‘cabbage walks’ are on display, whereby he invites participants, including 100 people in Manchester city centre, to take a cabbage for a walk on a lead.
As part of ATM08, there will also be a Tea Discussion Series across Manchester. Events are free, but you need to book in advance. See www.asiatriennialmanchester.com for more details.
