WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2023 Fukuoka Landscape―through the traces and fragmented memories

We are delighted to announce the exhibit of new artworks by Chen Wei-Chen (Taipei) and Koga Yoshihiro (Fukuoka), the two residency artists invited to the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Artist in Residence program 2023. Since October, each artist has been making new works based on observations of everyday landscapes or unknown history in Fukuoka. The exhibition presents the outcome of their residency through installation works.

Gallery Talk
The two artists who have been working in a shared studio will talk about their new creations, and have a conversation by looking at each other’s works.
Date and Time: December 9, Saturday 14:00-15:00
Place: Artist Cafe Fukuoka (Gallery)
Admission Free. No registration required.
Notice: The event will be presented in Japanese. Chen Wei-Chen’s talk will be spoken in Mandarin (provided with consecutive translation into Japanese).
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Closing Talk
Date and Time: December 16, Saturday 13:30-15:00
Place: Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
Admission Free. No registration required.
Notice: The event will be presented in Japanese. Chen Wei-Chen’s talk will be spoken in Mandarin (provided with consecutive translation into Japanese).
13:30-14:00 |Chen Wei-Chen |My Street Observation in Fukuoka: A “Boring” Photo Slideshow
Photos taken by the artist capturing Fukuoka streets will be presented on a slideshow, with explanations of how Chen was aesthetically struck by each encounter.
14:00-15:00 |Koga Yoshihiro| An Individual’s Creation in Search of History: Through the Artworks from Asia
The interrelations between the long history from far past, the artist’s family history, and art-making have come apparent to Koga through joining the residency program. In this talk, Koga refers to other works by some Asian artists who have confronted the past in a similar sense.
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■Chen Wei-Chen [陳為榛]
[Residency Period: October 3-December 20]

Born in 1993, Lives and works in New Taipei, Taiwan
For Chen, The origin of art is contemplated through observations made on everyday materials. Through practice and reconsideration of concepts such as ready-made, appropriation, and classic beauty, trajectories are extended from self-experience, cultural identity and circumstantial consciousness. Attempts are also made to allow materials under the artist’s control to be seen in ways that are different from their usual controlled and disciplined functions, meaning, and referential qualities.

Residency work
I was wandering around Fukuoka city and took a lot of “boring” photos. There are wooden houses with traditional roof tiles, modern buildings with strong geometrical order, and high-rise buildings that symbolize different times and places at the same time in the city.
Some of my favorite things that I encountered are the water pipes running down the walls from the eaves, a gap in the side of a house filled with materials in neat rows, or empty cans left behind in certain corners. I am interested in finding traces of people’s activities in the street. My work presents the boring and everyday sights I see on the road in my own way. This approach comes from my view of the aesthetics of the common people, my fetishism, my experience, and the feeling of being in this city.

Sketch for the new artwork

Artist at work in studio

ChenWei-Chen [陳為榛]| Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

■Koga Yoshihiro
[Residency Period: October 14-December 20]

Born in 1986, Fukuoka, Japan. Lives and works in Kurume.
Koga who studied sculpture in university, focuses on the relationships between the self and the materials. Using cement or paraffin, Koga has been creating works figuring out the forms which appeared through the repetitions of simple actions. In another type of work, Koga refers to cement in relation to the local history and environment where the artist grew up.

Residency work
The making of my work originates from personal memories that I heard from my grandparents. Delving into their memories also led me to find out my family history, as well as uncover the history of their land. Memories of the people would connect us to every other way. Thanks to the many participants who joined my workshop in which I wished to hear more
stories of different individuals, each personal experience would invite us to meet more stories.

Drawing for the new artwork
Water tower

「Workshop “Collecting Dreams”

Koga Yoshihiro| Fukuoka Asian Art Museum