The winning proposal was curated by Martin Goya Business, an artist group committed to supporting and promoting the work of emerging local artists.
One hundred and fifty art activists, sound art, performances and action paintings; These are just a few of the elements that make up Noon, Wildness, Stream, Washe, Ruins, Theatre, an eight-hour collective drama and the winning proposal of the Next Cultural Producer, a co-initiative launched by CHANEL Culture Fund and Power Station of Art. The program provides a platform for creators to articulate and showcase their stories.which runs in collaboration with…
On July 11, the Next Cultural Producer, presented its third season dubbed “Theater.” in Power Station of Art’s gallery space in Shanghai, China. The winning proposal, a three month exhibition entitled Noon, Wildness, Stream, Washe, Ruins, Theatre commenced with eight-hours of collective action, combining theater, performance and exhibition. Curated by the artist group Martin Goya Business, the inaugural performance brought together one hundred and fifty art activists with the objective of reflecting the challenges and dynamics of the real world through impressionistic expression.
The eight-hour collective drama consists of four distinct sections that encapsulate the everyday lives of artists. The exhibition begins with “Wildness” where viewers are brought into overlapping situations as they witness the creators’ preparation in a continuous cycle. Guests can then move into “Coordinate,” a section which contains letters from seventy-seven individual and group art practitioners in pieces like diaries, poems, manuscripts and photographs. This portion of the exhibition explores a range of deep emotions and harsh truths from teenage emotions to maternal hopes and unrealized aspirations.
In the third section of the exhibition, “Moving Image,” the drama looks at issues such as media ontology, technological ethics and ecological concerns through the works of young artists. The dynamic between viewer and performer reaches new heights in the fourth section “Washe” before finishing off with “Ruins,” a series of paintings that bring to light artists’ perspectives on the urbanization of Hangzhou.
The exhibition was put together by Martin Goya Business, an artist group led by screenwriter Da Mian, video artist Cheng Ran, visual music curator Taoph and writer Tan Sin Thiau. The group has collaborated with over four hundred transdisciplinary creators with the objective of supporting and promoting the work and exploration of emerging local artists. Noon, Wildness, Stream, Washe, Ruins, Theater is just one of over a hundred events and exhibitions created by the group and its team of esteemed creatives.
Starting the evening Night of Theater included dramas, dance, music and action painting among other performances. The night was converted into a series of interwoven videos which will be presented on the Power Station of Art’s first floor gallery space until Oct. 8. As the three-month exhibition ensues, the videos will grow with it, piecing together a new story and adding to the exhibition’s immersive experience alongside performance props and visual art. To expand on the drama’s performative mission, the space will also act as the site of ten public events, allowing the exhibition to change and evolve.
Through this multi-disciplinary project, the Next Cultural Producer reckons with the stories and journeys of local artists, bringing their perspectives to life through art and performance. Guests can become a direct part of the action, shaping the exhibition as they interact with each distinct portion of the project.
Noon, Wildness, Stream, Washe, Ruins, Theatre will run from July 12 to Oct. 8 at the Power Station of Art venue in Shanghai, China. All images courtesy of Chanel.
