the interconnectedness of everything // barry room // taipei Artist village // taipei // taiwan // 2018
The Interconnectedness of Everything is based on the concept of Taiwan’s indigenous traditional medicine and the emerging status of the ethnopharmacology study, which outlines the global scenario of the inheritance and development of traditional medicine. In such a scope of knowledge protection, it is important to find creative ways to learn about, share and protect the traditional medicinal knowledge of Taiwan. Special thanks to Hsieh Fu-Sung for this words of knowledge and medicinal guidance. Thank you to the Fu-Ju Medicinal Store. Thank you to Asia New Zealand Foundation and Creative New Zealand for making the project possible.
Curators Text - TSAO Liang Pin, SHENG Po-Yi, HUANG Hsiang-Yun
The interconnectedness Of Everything explores knowledge systems of Chinese medicine and aims to create a contemporary installation examining the role of wellbeing and spirituality in relation to the WU Xing 5 elements theory. During her residency in Taipei, Singh interviewed Chinese medicine practitioners studying various herbal ingredients, applications and belief systems as her creative materials. Within this new work, she strives to embody key concepts with Chinese Medicine knowledge systems through contemporary art with an aim to reconsolidate human relationships with tradition and nature, helping viewers to become aware of their senses and being, opening up the potential of self awareness and healing.
蒂凡尼‧辛歌的工作室無疑展現出她對中醫的材料學、東方哲學與物質文化的研究熱情。整個牆面的豐富筆記、陳列文件、香料,以及符號的繁複拼貼,與其將之視為一件空 間裝置作品,不如看作是一種帶有東∕西文化比較視野的藝術研究(artistic research) 的成果展示。換句話說,雖然一旁的繪畫、影像投影與物件,仍充分說明了她是一位懂得運用空間氛圍與色彩配置的創作者,但更令我好奇的是她展開田野踏查的具體方 法(這點在工作室開放當天的交流中較少提及)。一位好的創作者不一定需要透過生 產制式的「作品」——意即那些可以擺進美術館∕畫廊空間的美學物件——才能證明她 是一位好的藝術家;因為藝術家也可以是一位優秀的研究者,或者能為當代藝術開發更多元的文化實踐路線的思考者。蒂凡尼‧辛歌毫無疑問屬於後者.
The work of Tiffany Singh presents visitors with a view of the artist’s passion towards the materials of Chinese medicine, eastern philosophy, and material culture. Instead of viewing the complex collages of notes, documents, herbs, and symbols as seen displayed in the studio as a spatial installation, viewers can interpret this exhibit as a result of this artistic research on comparative studies between Eastern and Western culture. In other words, although the paintings, image projections, and objects, all suggest that Singh is an artist who is immensely skilful at arranging the atmosphere of the space with colour, I am equally interested in the artist’s method of conducting field investigation. An excellent artist does not need to prove his or her ability through producing standardised works (aesthetic objects that are qualified to enter the collection or display of art museums or galleries); artists can also be outstanding researchers or philosophers who can introduce variety into the scene of contemporary art; Tiffany Singh is undoubtedly one of the latter. -WANG Sheng-Hung, Art Critic
