EVERYTHING YOU´VE EVER WANTED IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANET
FJK3, Vienna (AT)
07.12.2020 – 26.12.2020
Curator:
Hitomi Hasegawa (JP)
Artists:
Yu Araki (JP), Oscar Cueto (MX), Tetsugo Hyakutake (JP), Kyun-Chome (JP), Michikazu Matsune (JP), Yoshinori Niwa (JP), Lisl Ponger (AT),
Almut Rink (DE), Hikaru Suzuki (JP), Kota Takeuchi (JP), Kay Walkowiak (AT), Pan Lu und Bo Wang (CN), Sun Xun (CN), Zheng Yuan (CN)
The COVID-19 outbreak has triggered bouts of racism and violence against Chinese and Asian people in Europe and elsewhere. Indeed, this pandemic has made xenophobic sentiments and racism more visible, as evidenced by the Black Lives Matter movement that followed the death of George Floyd.
Last year, Japan and Austria celebrated the 150th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and long-standing exchanges. The beginning of this partnership was marked by the 1869 Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation. Despite this friendly celebration, this treaty perfected the unequal conditions that existed between Japan and other Western countries, due to the most-favoured-nation treatment. After this treaty, unfair articles, such as extraterritorial rights, were applied to Austria as well as other countries. Five countries had an advantageous treaty with Japan, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Russia and the Netherlands.
Following this commemorative year, the aim of exhibition 'everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of the planet' is to examine the contradictory feelings towards foreignness, political identity and post-colonial or post-war issues from the late 19th century to today. This project also deals with how artists interpret desire, passion and love for foreign cultures, artifacts and lands. Indeed, both are polarized emotions and reactions towards Other cultures. Since human being started to search for a New World, there have been numerous things people want from the other side of the planet.
Kay Walkowiak conceived a new work for the exhibition: Archive of Chance (2020). One thousand brass peanuts - lucky charms in Taoist culture - are randomly placed on the floor, opening up a field of possibilities: it is up to us which seed we may plant; it is up to us which plant we will nourish; it is up to us which fruits we may harvest, every moment, every day and every year in our lifetime.
In Buddhist teaching, Karma (cause and effect) is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture for all renewed becoming in the future. It is believed that one will reap what one has sown; we are the result of what we were and will be the result of what we are. In other words, we will not always be as we were in the past nor will we remain totally as we are now. As long as there is a seed, there will be a fruit.
Supported by: POLA ART Foundation, Austrian Federal Chancellery, FRANZ JOSEFS KAI 3, AIL, MIACA
Thanks to: Kadist Foundation Paris, Charim Gallery, Vienna
Text: Hitomi Hasegawa, MIACA, Hong Kong 2020
Photos: (c) Studio Kay Walkowiak
Last year, Japan and Austria celebrated the 150th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and long-standing exchanges. The beginning of this partnership was marked by the 1869 Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation. Despite this friendly celebration, this treaty perfected the unequal conditions that existed between Japan and other Western countries, due to the most-favoured-nation treatment. After this treaty, unfair articles, such as extraterritorial rights, were applied to Austria as well as other countries. Five countries had an advantageous treaty with Japan, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Russia and the Netherlands.
Following this commemorative year, the aim of exhibition 'everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of the planet' is to examine the contradictory feelings towards foreignness, political identity and post-colonial or post-war issues from the late 19th century to today. This project also deals with how artists interpret desire, passion and love for foreign cultures, artifacts and lands. Indeed, both are polarized emotions and reactions towards Other cultures. Since human being started to search for a New World, there have been numerous things people want from the other side of the planet.
Kay Walkowiak conceived a new work for the exhibition: Archive of Chance (2020). One thousand brass peanuts - lucky charms in Taoist culture - are randomly placed on the floor, opening up a field of possibilities: it is up to us which seed we may plant; it is up to us which plant we will nourish; it is up to us which fruits we may harvest, every moment, every day and every year in our lifetime.
In Buddhist teaching, Karma (cause and effect) is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture for all renewed becoming in the future. It is believed that one will reap what one has sown; we are the result of what we were and will be the result of what we are. In other words, we will not always be as we were in the past nor will we remain totally as we are now. As long as there is a seed, there will be a fruit.
Supported by: POLA ART Foundation, Austrian Federal Chancellery, FRANZ JOSEFS KAI 3, AIL, MIACA
Thanks to: Kadist Foundation Paris, Charim Gallery, Vienna
Text: Hitomi Hasegawa, MIACA, Hong Kong 2020
Photos: (c) Studio Kay Walkowiak