Booth | GC08
Venue | Kyoto International Conference Center, Kyoto, Japan
Participating Artists | Mit Jai Inn, Jam Wu, Charwei Tsai, Chiu Chen-Hung
Opening Hours｜
As an art space deeply rooted in Taiwan, TKG+ inherits the legacy of nurturing contemporary art from its predecessor, Tina Keng Gallery. For this year’s Art Collaboration Kyoto, TKG+ is pleased to present works by Thai artist Mit Jai Inn (b. 1960), and Taiwanese artists Jam Wu (b. 1979), Charwei Tsai (b. 1980), and Chiu Chen-Hung (b. 1983). These artists share a similar lineage: as mid-career Asian artists profoundly influenced by Western culture, they have developed the unique characteristics of mid-generation Asian cultural figures. Like TKG+, they articulate their perspectives in distinctive ways. Despite their vibrant and open-minded approach, their works are profoundly redolent of memory.
Since its inception in 2021, Art Collaboration Kyoto, or ACK, has been a fair that pivots on the idea of collaboration. What differentiates it from other art fairs is that ACK features local Japanese galleries which invite overseas art spaces to present within the same booth. This not only allows for collaboration opportunities between the Japanese art circle and international counterparts, but creates a vibrant scene of shared prosperity among Asian artists, curators, gallerists, and art aficionados.
For its third time in ACK, TKG+ again collaborates with Shugo Arts, Tokyo. Revolving around the theme of abstraction, the joint presentation explores the diversity of their artists, and fosters exchange and dialogue. Looking back on art history, it has been over a century since abstract art became a key conception in contemporary discourse. Today, with the evolution of artificial intelligence, everything in human society ceases to be singular or absolute. This transformation is reshaping areas from socioeconomics, education, to arts and culture. Just as our artists’ portrayal of abstraction, some dialectics are embedded within their works, while more often, space is left for the viewer to find freedom in their own interpretation.
Based in an ancient city such as Kyoto, ACK highlights its intention to honor tradition while ushering in the future. Steeped in history and cultural heritage, the city provides a unique backdrop — not only as a homage but as an exploration in contemporary art forms. This colliding between the old and the new resonates with TKG+’s goal to privilege Taiwanese culture and the regional art it champions. TKG+ has participated in major art fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong and Frieze Seoul. As TKG+ engages with challenges on the international art scene, it seeks to present Taiwan’s unique aesthetics, social environment, and cultural identity in Kyoto, in an effort to promote diverse artistic practices within contemporary discourse.
