V Art Center is pleased to present an exhibition All Tomorrow’s Parties, curated by Ivy Zhou, opening on Sunday, December 9th, 2012 and continuing through January 10th, 2013. The opening reception will be on December 9th, 4 – 6 pm and an additionally Party will take place on Dec. 22nd, 6 – 8 pm.
The exhibition is a humorous but melancholic interpretation of the idea of “the end of the world” – as an imaginary farewell. The melancholy of imaginary farewell also implies the expectations for a reunion party, though all tomorrow’s parties remain uncertain. The anxiety of departure becomes a metaphor for the fear of uncertain time. All of the sadness, fear and sometimes joy come from an uncertainty of return.
In the exhibition, Liu Zhenchen’s video work L’Adieu presents a dramatic departure scene: people waving at a departing cruise ship, which recalls not only the Biblical tale of Noah’s Ark, but also Michel Foucault’s “Narrenschiffen” (Ship of Fools). Ma Chong’s photo installation The Light of Civilization continues the artist’s interests in the subject of city, while his slideshow makes the light of civilization fade away slowly and ironically. Farewell is Yin Yi’s latest sound installation, which takes a social perspective, concerning the older generation who feel abandoned when leaving a major social position.
To experience Gao Jie’s installation Abrasion gives the experience of time – walking through the passage the work creates which symbolizes the crevice of time. Liao fei’s watercolor scroll Stone shows up in the exhibition, like an unknown monster, along with Fang Qi’s surreal ice crumbs spreading throughout the exhibition space – all these give a feeling of the weird uncertainty.
The exhibition tries to playfully change the meaning of the artworks, either through the material of the work, for example Fang Qi’s ice work Magic Wand, or by the way how the work displays, like Ma Chong’s hanging installation Inertial Thinking. These artists are experimenting with the possibility of transforming the form and meaning of a specific artwork during the exhibition, before, and after. The works are in a continuous state of flux. While Liu Ren’s work focuses on the day December 21st particularly, as which is said to be the end day of the world. His work will be shown after 21st. Then the party follows on the next day.
In addition, on the occasion of this exhibition, will be the first presentation of Boo York’s ongoing life-project Hollywood, Wait for Me, and will be performed by the artist at the opening.
For further information, please contact Ivy Zhou at ivy.ioffice@gmail.com or Chao Jiaxing at vartcenter@vip.126.com , contact for V Art Center. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 18:00.
