TKG+ at Art Collaboration Kyoto 2023｜Booth C06: Art Fair

TKG+ is pleased to announce its participation in the 2023 edition of Art Collaboration Kyoto (ACK). Partnering with ShugoArts, we invite artists to create under the unifying theme of circle, allowing each of their visual languages to blend. Varying sizes of round works juxtaposed in the space form a visual continuity that echoes the shape of the circle, evoking a sense of interconnectedness. Across the cultures of ancient civilizations, the circle often symbolizes the mother, and is closely associated with fertility and abundance. It has been considered a representation of life and reproduction. The circle, in the context of contemporary art, has long departed from its traditional associations, and transformed into an abstract expression of the artist’s intent. Conveying a sense of infinity, the circle embodies a state of motion within stillness, inspiring the visual tension and dynamic in the works on view.

Deeply engaged in national politics, history, and public issues, Thai artist Mit Jai Inn (b. 1960) has established a rigorous artistic practice. Through repeated application and manipulation of pigments, he produces vibrantly colored canvases, seeking to create a connection between people, society, and nature.

Singaporean artist Jane Lee (b. 1963) is known for her ingenious approach to materiality, color, and volume. Allowing the viewer to perceive the work from a different vantage point, the artist redefines the balance between two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces.

Taiwanese artist Michael Lin (b. 1964) wraps traditional Taiwanese floral-patterned fabric around a lazy Susan commonly seen in local banquets in Taiwan, where folk culture and collective memory intertwine to shed light on the island’s sociocultural milieu.

In The Offering of Mount Meru - Night (2021), Taiwanese artist Charwei Tsai (b. 1980) uses embroidery on handcrafted felt to depict the Mount Meru, which is held sacred in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. This place is regarded as the center of the physical, metaphysical, and spiritual universes, and is frequently referenced in religious prayers and dedications. Through the concentric circular patterns, the work instantiates the pursuit of spiritual tranquility and the unity of the mind and soul, rooted in meditation and introspection.

Taiwanese artist Chen-Hung Chiu (b. 1983) draws inspiration from common materials such as cement and concrete. Window views of Taiwan’s native plants rendered in intaglio capture the silhouette of the plants, as well as the changing light and shadow. For this year’s ACK, the artist presents his work in a circular format, offering an intriguing perspective that diverges from his past body of work.

Through their creative expressions in various mediums, these artists showcase the cultural and religious contexts of Southeast Asia. At first glance, each presentation appears distinct, yet together they embody a unified visual aesthetic. As a meditative response to an ancient cultural city such as Kyoto, TKG+ aspires to achieve harmony through its meticulous presentation, transcending the limitations of a singular cultural framework. With the convergence of Japanese and Taiwanese artistic expressions, an enduring Asian contemporary art context materializes through fusion and disintegration. Within the artistic endeavor that integrates both cultural ideologies lie the seeds of possibilities for the future of contemporary art.