Exhibit showcasing works of Caribbean artists
Exhibit showcasing works of Caribbean artists
2023-06-04
A new exhibit in Taipei brings to light the history of the Caribbean islands and the global issues they face. The video and new media works of seven Caribbean artists are on display. Our very own Stephany Yang spoke to the exhibit’s curator Sasha Dees to find out more.
This video was created by Sharelly Emanuelson. The video showcases St. Maarten after a severe hurricane. You can hear voices, wind, and animals. This work explores the concept of coexistence and delves into the subject of national unity.
Sasha Dees
Curator
In Taiwan, you have typhoons and earthquakes. That happens in Haiti with the earthquakes. It happens in St. Maarten, which is one of the islands that belong to the Dutch kingdom still. There is that similarity as well. The work talks about endangered plants and species which I think Taiwan has a lot of as well.
The exhibition also explores how colonialism, globalization, and imperialism have influenced the world, and how different nations face the same struggles. The exhibition is curated by Sasha Dees from the Netherlands. Dees has spent many years researching issues related to Caribbean countries. She plans to stay in Taiwan for three months. Through her studies and observations in Taiwan so far, there are many similarities between Taiwan and other Caribbean countries.
Sasha Dees
Curator
The first connection of course is that the Netherlands was a colonial power. We colonized countries both in the Far West and Far East. The Netherlands was also the first to colonize Taiwan. That is a literal connection. Although, Taiwan it was only 40 years. The Caribbean has been a much longer time. That made me spark my interest to see what other connections are there. There are other issues like sovereignty of course. Can you be your own country in this time and age? What are the problems you walk into? Translational labor.
The works explore global issues including cross-regional labor, climate change, protests, identity, the immigrant experience, and sustainable development. The exhibit features six pieces of artwork from seven Caribbean artists, including two from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies from Haiti and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
This work is by Nadia Huggins. “Circa No Future” documents the story of boys from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines swimming in the sea.
Sasha Dees
Curator
This work shows a very poetic way the sea and how local people really engage with the sea and how young boys become adults. How we all know that feeling of jumping into the sea and you feel very free and your worries disappear. You can actually really become your true self. I thought that was also a nice link to Taiwan, who is currently so much trying to develop this identity to really stand out as its own country.
The exhibition will be held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei till July 16.
《加勒比海地區錄像與新媒體藝術》特展 策展人專訪
2023-06-04
台北當代藝術館推出《NEXUS－加勒比海地區錄像與新媒體藝術》特展，展出加勒比海地區7位藝術家作品，探討加勒比海地區的歷史以及他們所面臨的議題。來自荷蘭的策展人莎夏・迪斯，與民視新聞記者暢談策展的理念。
雪埃莉．伊曼紐爾森創作的影片《公民》，呈現颶風過後的聖馬汀島。藝術家分享島上人聲、風聲，以及動物的聲音，藉此探討”共存”及”國家團結”的議題。
[[荷蘭策展人 莎夏・迪斯]]
"在台灣有颱風和地震，海地及聖馬汀島也有，馬汀島還有一部分是屬於荷蘭，這也有相似之處。這個作品講的是瀕臨滅絕的植物和物種，我覺得台灣也有很多"
展覽探討殖民主義、全球化和帝國主義如何影響世界，以及不同國家如何面臨同樣的鬥爭。長期研究加勒比海議題的策展人莎夏・迪斯來自荷蘭，預計在台灣待上三個月。莎夏表示，這陣子在台灣的學習和觀察，讓她發現台灣與加勒比國家有很多相似之處。
[[荷蘭策展人 莎夏・迪斯]]
"第一個連結當然是荷蘭是一個殖民大國，我們在遠西和遠東都有殖民地。荷蘭也是第一個殖民台灣的國家，這是一個實質上的聯繫，雖然只有維持40年，荷蘭殖民加勒比海的時間比較長，但這讓我產生的興趣，想看看還有哪些其他的聯繫，當然還有其他問題，比如主權。在這個時代，你能掌控自己的國家嗎，你遇到的問題是什麼，還有跨國勞動的議題"
這些作品探討了全球性問題，包括跨國勞動、氣候變化、抗議、身份認同、移民經歷和永續發展。展覽展出了來自7位加勒比藝術家的6組作品，其中2組來自台灣的友邦，海地和聖文森及格瑞那丁。
納迪亞．哈金斯的創作《大約沒未來》，記錄下聖文森及格瑞那丁男孩們在海中的互動。
[[荷蘭策展人 莎夏・迪斯]]
"這個作品用一種非常詩意的方式呈現大海，以及當地人如何與大海互動，還有小男孩長大成人的過程。我們都知道跳入大海的感覺，你會感到非常自由，你的煩惱都會消失，可以成為真正的自己。我認為這也是與台灣現況有關聯，台灣目前正在努力脫穎而出，壯大自己的國家"
展覽將於台北當代藝術館展出至7月16日。
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