Tales of My Village

In this exhibition, the term “My Village” is used to symbolize the concept of the “homeland.” Regardless of whether one hails from a village or a city, or whether one feels a true sense of belonging, we can’t help but feel something special about our “homeland.” And that “homeland” can be one’s actual birthplace, an ancestral land never lived in, or even an idealized, imaginary place to be sought out. Thinking of, or searching, for a “homeland” is actually an act of re-establishment or exploration of our self-identity. This quest also stems from a very basic question: “Where am I from?” or “Who am I?”

This exhibition brings together “My Village,” a number of homelands depicted by Asian artists. The exhibition starts from “Depicting Village Life,” a section that shows paintings which portray everyday life and work in artists’ own villages or their vision of a perfect life through the various styles of tribal art of India and Bangladesh. Next, “the Reality of a Homeland” introduces artworks which focus on harsh realities of life in their homeland, such as exploitation by those in power in the era of urbanization. And in “My Village,” we can feel artists’ affection for their own homeland through their artworks, which depict the seasons, customs, and values and philosophies of their villages. The final section, entitled “Movement,” shows the work of artists who have wrestled with their self-identity after migrating to new lands. Furthermore, it also gives us an insight into an important question: whether or not “the homeland” has to be defined by borders. For example, the homeland of nomadic people is constantly shifting along with their movements.

We hope the exhibition “Tales of My Village” and the artworks shown here gives you a chance to turn your thoughts to your own “homeland.”