Curators in MOCA Exhibition Series
Senior Curator Kao Chien-hui Presents “Trading Place: Contemporary Art Museum” 
True/False Changing Images - A Museum Within a Museum April 2

Viral infections and explosions are just two of the themes addressed by the most recent exhibition to be shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei. The second in the 2005 “Curators in MOCA Exhibition Series” - “Trading Place: Contemporary Art Museum” (April 2-May 22) is curated by senior curator Kao Chien-hui as both a conceptual and a visual commentary exhibition. Each invited artist to start by defining the term “contemporary art museum” from a curatorial perspective. In doing so, a number of standard contemporary art issues were taken as creative motifs;  “stealing” “exchanging” “trading” “re-presenting” “misappropriating.” These are then used as proxies for the virtual representation of possible developmental scenarios in contemporary art. Exhibition participants include Mei Dean-E, Tu Wei-cheng, Lee Ming-wei, Shih Jin-hua, Liu Shih-fen, Lin Chun-hsien and Lin Shu-min from Taiwan, Zhang Hongtu and Qiu Zhijie from China together with K.Y.T and Cai Guoqiang. The result is a display of rich and unimaginable possibilities.

What is contemporary art? Who can be an artist? Although artistic creativity in modern society makes use of a greater diversity of media, it is also increasingly incomprehensible. In addition, the fact that works are now displayed not only in art museums but also alternative art spaces, has forced such museums to reassess their role and generated considerable debate as to their future function. The curator of “Trading Place” has uses the “Contemporary Art Museum” as a vehicle to reflect several phenomena currently identifiable in the modern art community. This approach is an attempt to introduce those who are perhaps unfamiliar with contemporary art to the field in more detail, whilst also ensuring individuals involved or familiar with modern art are not blind to the problems it faces. The curator utilizes the existing space of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei to create a replica exhibition arena. Through an intriguing mixture of real/false, misappropriation, juxtaposition, re-presentation and reconstruction, participating artists discuss the complex relations between art, artists and a dizzying array of art systems. They also challenge existing art museum administrative structures whilst also raising important questions about certain contemporary art phenomenon. As part of the blueprint for this exhibition, the curator presents an exhibition format that is in effect “a museum within a museum,” creating in the process a new venue called the “Contemporary Art Museum.” Also “invented” are a virtual Minister of Culture, a virtual museum director and a collection display pieces that do not exist. This is an alternative exhibition, supported and indeed created by a real museum administration system, genuine artists and actual works of art.

When visitors enter the “Contemporary Art Museum” they can expect an entirely unique art experience, viewing fascinating works of art that appear genuine but are not and others that could be either authentic or imitations. One of these pieces is a joint work by renowned television host K.Y.T and artist Cai Guoqiang entitled “Art Shopping Network.” When Cai curated the “Bunker Museum of Contemporary Art” in Taiwan last year, he met and became friends with Tsai Kang-yung. Having been invited to the current exhibition, the two men decided to present a joint work. Prior to the exhibition, Cai blew up a total of 66 Shanghai Golden-Yuan on cotton fabric which he then gave an official stamped and signed, transforming each one into a work of art, with Tsai Kang-yung then selling these items live on the shopping channel.<

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