Comfort Women Wanted
Feb 17, 2012 - May 31, 2012
@1a space
COMFORT WOMEN WANTED brings to light the memory of 200,000 young women, known as "comfort women," who were systematically exploited as sex slaves in Asia during World War II, and increases awareness of sexual violence against women during wartime.
Based on artist Chang Jin-Lee’s research since 2007 in Asia, (including Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia), meeting “comfort women survivors” and a former Japanese soldier from W.W.II, COMFORT WOMEN WANTED involves ad-like prints and multichannel video installation.
The gathering of women to serve the Imperial Japanese Army was organized on an industrial scale not seen before in modern history. This project promotes awareness of these women, some of whom are still alive today, and brings to light a history which has been largely forgotten and denied.
The title, COMFORT WOMEN WANTED, is a reference to the actual text of advertisements which appeared in Asia newspapers during the war. When advertising failed, young women from Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Netherlands were kidnapped or deceived and forced into sexual slavery. Most were teenagers, some as young as 12 years old, and were raped by as many as fifty soldiers a day at military rape camps, known as "comfort stations." By some estimates only 30% survived the ordeal.
Whenever there's a war we hear about the suffering of soldiers, yet we hear almost nothing about the plight of women who are kidnapped and raped, or killed. Often it is the poorest and most marginalized elements of society who suffer most. Throughout history women like this are too often invisible, forgotten and left with no place to turn.
The "Comfort Women System" is considered the largest case of human trafficking in the 20th century. Much in the same way that acknowledgment and awareness of the Holocaust helps to insure it will not happen again, by acknowledging this issue we can prevent another generation of enslaved "comfort women" from happening anywhere ever again.
In the 21st century, human trafficking has surpassed drug trafficking to become the second largest business in the world after arms dealing. The "comfort women" issue illustrates the victimization which women suffer in terms of gender, ethnicity, politics, and class oppression, and how women are still perceived as a disposable commodity. This project promotes empowerment of these and all women, and seeks to establish a path toward a future where oppression is no longer tolerated.
About the Artists
Chang-Jin Lee
A Korean-born visual artist based in New York City. Her multicultural background and experiences have provoked in her an interest in investigating the diverse cultural and social/political issues in our current era.
She has exhibited extensively including at The Incheon Women Artists’ Biennale (Korea), Bo Pi Liao Contemporary (Taiwan), The Queens Museum of Art (New York), The World Financial Center Winter Garden (New York), The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (New York), The Franconia Sculpture Park (Minnesota), The Asian American Arts Centre (New York), The Chinese American Arts Council (New York), Van Brunt Gallery (New York), Elizabeth Heskin Gallery (New York), The Peekskill Project (New York), The Bronx River Art Center (New York), and Spaces Gallery (OH).
She is a recipient of numerous awards including The New York State Council on the Arts Grant (New York), Asian Cultural Council Fellowship (New York), The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Grant (New York), The Franconia Sculpture Park Jerome Fellowship (New York), The Asian Women Giving Circle Award (New York), The New York Foundation for the Arts Fiscal Sponsorship Award (New York), The World Financial Center Sponsorship (New York) , The Puffin Foundation Grant, The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council - Creative Capital Professional Development Workshop (New York) and The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Manhattan Community Arts Fund (New York).
www.changjinlee.net
ART HK 12, Hong Kong International Art Fair
May 16, 2012 - May 20, 2012
@1a space
1a space is proud to be Education Partner for Art HK 2012 again and educational activity packs for use by secondary school students will be available from 1a space’s Stand Z7.
Cultivation
1a was the first art space to initiate Oil street artist village in HK. Over the past ten years, 1a space has presented and organized more than 100 exhibitions and activities, and has been active in international exchanges and cultural activities as well as in interactive community arts, art education and appreciation, art criticism and publications. 1a space has played a vital role in developing new frontiers for the visual art scene in Hong Kong and its representation abroad.
This year, in our booth, we will share with public the archive of 1a space publications throughout the years. With our strong research-based educational and curatorial team, 1a space publications aim not just documentation, but also to cultivate and nurture local artistic talents with and to promote the critical dissemination of contemporary visual arts practices and affiliated art forms in Hong Kong. Through the retrospective display in our booth, we hope to nurture and also inspire the local art scene.
Education
1a space will continue to organize education programs and activities to engage local community and introduce various aspects of visual art, especially in strengthening art appreciation.
Same as last year, this year we designed a new Bilingual Education Pack for teachers and school students. 1a space will guide the teacher how to make use of the Education Pack with their students during and after the visit and how they could apply it as reference for their future visit to other art events. This event will bring the students to learn art and raise their art appreciation and criticism. The project bridged the art community and formal education system.
Kai Tak River Green Art Fest 2012 Exhibition: Is/Is Not Kai Tak River a Metaphor
Jun 22, 2012 - Aug 10, 2012
@1a space
Kai Tak River is approximately 3 kilometers in length running through the old districts of Wong Tai Sin and Kowloon City in East Kowloon. Ten years ago or more, it was notorious for its stinky smell and as other things in Hong Kong, it was seen but not cherished, it was ordinary but without face. Now the nearby living space and ecological environments have been changing drastically. It stands there as a silent witness to all urban developments. The river is both the physical connection of geographies and the embodiment of the community's memory. When artists enter the environment, will turn it into a platform for playing imagination? Or to make a good intention come true? Is it a temporal metaphor for the communal life? How do artists instill their imagination of the future or critical perspectives into the local with their creativity?
Kai Tak River also mirrors many aspects of Hong Kong's spatial development. The surrounding fresco of schools, communities, housing estates, parks and major transportation routes sums up and reflects the life of old communities. Isn't its variety a metaphor for the constant transformation of local communities, and the future development of green lifestyle? As the artists enter the green environment to connect art with education--Is this just a story about symbols, or a source of artistic power that inspires, acts and opens up the public imagination and dialogue?
Curator: Cally Yu
Participating artists:
Overseas artists:
Alessandro Carboni (Italy), David Haley (U.K.), Ichi Ikeda (Japan), Yutaka Yano (Japan)
Local artists:
Annie Wan, Chris Chan, Kingsley Ng, Chung Wai lan, Lo Chi Kit
Artist profiles: http://www.kaitakriver.com/participating-artists/
Opening cocktail: 6:30-9:30pm June 22 (With performance by participating overseas artists)
Fresh Trend 2012 Art Graduates Joint Exhibition
Aug 15, 2012 - Sep 02, 2012
@1a space
Organizer: Hong Kong Art Network
Co-organizer: 1a space
Supported by: Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Supporting Organizations: Department of Fine Arts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Art School, Art Beatus Gallery, Gallery Exit, Schoeni Gallery
Curator: Leung Shiu Kee, Eric
Artists:
Department of Fine Arts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
CHAN Suet Yi, CHAN Wai Yee, CHAN Wing Sang, CHIU Tsz Ting, CHU Ka Ki, KWONG Wing Kwan, LAU Kwan Yin, Anki, LAW Ka Nam, TSANG Lai Wa, WONG Yan Yin, Rachel
Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University
CHAN Pak Kin, Brandon, CHAN Yuet Yi, CHONG Wai, Isaac, HSU Wai Lun, KWAN Long Hei, Matthew, LAM Fan Shing, LI Ka Lee, LUI Hong Ling, Joesphine, MAK Lai Ying, Edith, YEUNG Pik Ki, Jovial
Hong Kong Art School
CHAN Chi Hau, Ivan, CHAN King Wai, CHAN Sum Yan, Tap, CHEUNG Sze Lit, Szelit, CHOW Hoi Lam, Jenny, D' AQUINO Aaron, DING Mei Ling, Dorothy, LAI Hoi Sai, Joey, Kenneth NG,, WONG Fung Chi
Venue/ Date:
Exhibition Hall, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
7A Kennedy Road, Central, HK
15-26/ 8/ 2012 10:00am-9:00pm (Closed on Tue)
27/ 8/ 2012 10:00am-5:00pm
1a space
Unit 14, Cattle Depot Artist Village, 63 Ma Tau Kok Road, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, HK
15/ 8- 2/ 9/2012 11:00am-7:00pm (Closed on Mon)
Opening
19/ 8/ 2012 (Sun) 4:00pm
Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
Opening Guests
Ms. LAU Fung Ha, Lesley, Chief Curator, Art Promotion Office
Mr Richard YIU, General Manager, Art Beatus Gallery
Mr Anthony TAO, Curator, Gallery Exit
Ms Nicole SCHOENI, Director, Schoeni Art Gallery
Mr TAM Wai Ping, Assistant Professor, Department of Fine Arts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Mr HO Siu Kee, Associate Professor, Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University
Ms LAM Laam, Jaffa, Senior Lecturer, Hong Kong Art School
Art Ecology of HK Seminar
19/ 8/ 2012 (Sun) 2:30pm
Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
Speakers
Mr TAM Wai Ping, Assistant Professor, Department of Fine Arts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Mr Anthony TAO, Curator, Gallery Exit
Mr CHOW Chun Fai, Artist
DESTINATION BERLIN
Sep 21, 2012 - Dec 23, 2012
@1a space
Curator: Susana Lopez Fernandez
Participating artists:
Jacqueline Kooter (Amsterdam)
Shirley Wiebe (Canada)
Susana López F. (Spain)
Thea Jentjens(Amsterdam)
Wai Kit Lam (Hong Kong)
Wai Yi Lai (Hong Kong)
Opening Cocktail Reception
Date: 21September 2012 (Friday)
Time: 7:00pm
Artist Talk
Date: 22September 2012 (Saturday)
Time: 2:30 - 4:00pm
DESTINATION BERLIN: the search of identity.
In November 2009, when the city of Berlin was celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a twist of the fate brought together six international artists: Jacqueline Kooter (Amsterdam), Shirley Wiebe (Canada), Susana López F. (Spain), Thea Jentjens (Amsterdam), Wai Kit Lam (Hong Kong), Wai Yi Lai (Hong Kong).
1a Space presents Destination Berlin, a group exhibition about the search for individual and collective identity through the work that was created during their shared art residency in the city of Berlin.
We start a journey through their different views and we explore different art techniques from graphite to paint to multimedia art, and we travel to investigate the different faces and interpretations of identity.
Jacqueline, Shirley, Susana, Thea, Kit and Yi investigate concepts such as communication and integration in a city where the unfamiliar language of German made them vulnerable. At the same time, these circumstances help them to go within in order to express and respond to new complexities.
The concept of identity has been an ongoing discussion between artists and philosophers from the early centuries to the present. We define identity as “the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones under varying aspects or conditions”.
This exhibition reveals six individual glances and expressions on the theme of identity, through a common platform: the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of the German city.
The nomadic and fluctuating qualities that define contemporary life often require us to relocate to another city, a different country, with a new language and cultural background that are different from our own.
Connections between environment, memory and identity form a continuous thread of questioning in Shirley´s work. Much of it is transient and migratory, reflecting our ability to move and relocate, to shift our lives into new settings.
In Destination Berlin, Shirley exhibits two large-scale drawings, the first one created in Berlin, and second, upon returning to Vancouver. The works vividly reflect the experience of being immersed in a new environment and culture through fragmentary elements that appear to float and drift across a surface.
Susana López F. shows in her work a reflection of many hours spent at airports waiting for flights. She explores how airports are places where identity is scrutinized and we become anonymous, but at the same time is the centre of contemporary culture.
In Destination Berlin, Susana show us Letzter Aufruf. This project is a convergence of both topics from the show: Identity and the reunification of Berlin. In November 2011, Susana travelled to Berlin to give graphic testimony of two airports: Tegel and Schönefeld, which are still memory of that Wall that some day ago divided the city and also the whole world into two: West and East.
And perhaps Identity, that we consider so valuable nowadays, was something people from East Berlin wanted to lose in order to have an anonymous life that let them be free.
Jacqueline Kooter reflects on the lack of freedom to move around using three videos: “Walled in”, “Blocked off” and “Trapped in the city”. These videos are based on her stay in Berlin during the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2009.
Thea, shows us a series of drawings mostly with architectural elements, a reflection of her long walking tours in the formerly divided city. A reflection about how absurd history can be in a city where most of the official buildings are duplicated because of its old leaders´ search of identity.
As a result of her constant international trips Wai Kit Lam thinks about who She is very often. she feels as Chinese when she is abroad and when she comes home she feels closer to Western culture than Chinese Traditions. During her stay in Berlin in 2009, Wai Kit continues to examinate her identity in this foreign city through a language she does not speak and is not able to understand.
We are going to conclude with Wai Yi Lai´s work. She is a Chinese artist, which work is about the relationship between the environment and people. She looks for her identity through the sorrounding environment, but for her sorrounding environment refers to the correlation between humans and the entities embracing us. In Destination Berlin she shows us a tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Gu . . . and all who have lost their home in China.
Artist Dossier: http://issuu.com/susanalopezfernandez/docs/destinationberlin
To Know More: http://destinationberlin2012.blogspot.com.es/