-The 22nd Artist-in-Residence Programme Review-

 

The 22nd Artist-in-Residence programme - Play Under the Table was successfully held from June 5th to July 15th, 2021, and four workshops, one lecture, one practical application course, 50 hours of artist clinic, one exhibition ‘Play Under the Table’ and artist-guided exhibition tours were organized during the programme. The students who participated in the programme gained precious experience in the guidance and creation of the artists Peng Ke and Zhao Qian.

In the first workshop, Ms. Dorothy Wong, Director of the University Arts Centre, shared that students are required to meet the standards and keep the same with others in traditional education. However, creation wants difference and self-expression, while the activities held by the University Arts Centre are intended to be a remedy for students, motivate them to bring their inspirations into their academic major, or even their future career, and to become preeminent leaders in their fields.

 

Let's review these scenes together.

 

 

01【Workshop Series】

 

On June 22nd, 2021, undergraduates and graduates from all majors gathered at TC101 SPACE and Artist-in-Residence Studio at CUHK(SZ), taking part in the third workshop with the two artists.

The workshop initiated the enlightenment path from the very first beginning. From Antonioni’s films to Paul Auster’s novels, Zhao Qian inspired students to imagine themselves as the spider - weaving “the drooling of the devil”, ballooning between “familiar objects” and “alien meanings”.

Within the infinite possibilities that the artists gave with the creation themes, students with different understanding of art and disparate creating experience could all have a chance to express their feelings of “familiar objects” through images.

 

 "Art is all around us because it’s an approach to express and explore. In a such simple but energetic campus environment, art facilitates observation, while life triggers inspiration. The workshops in AIR ‘give man a fish, teach him to fish and care about the ocean’. "

——Zhang Xuan

 

 

02【"One-to-One" Artist Clinic】

 

To get students closer to art and understand the real creation process from the artists, "one-to-one" artist clinic was arranged to give students the opportunity for deep discussion and to complete their works.

"I thought the clinic would be held in a more formal way with tables and chairs arranged,  as well as Q&A after the lectures. With anxiety and perplexity of my twenties, I was nervous and had no idea what secret recipe to expect from the “artist clinic”. However, the artists’ relaxed state lightened up our conversation, which was like a friend-chatting. "

——Zhang Guowei

 

"I was completely cured in the Artist Clinic. From installation making to ideas discussion, I could fearlessly, freely, and fully express all of myself in front of the artists. Their careful listening, support, and feedbacks gradually erased my diffidence and doubt about some ideas. "

——Huang Yingyu

 

 

03【Lecture "Play Under the Table——Image Study Group”】

 

The opportunity to communicate with artists goes far beyond that. In the lecture of “Play Under the Table - Image Study Group” on June 28th, the artists Zhao Qian and Peng Ke introduced the working style of image-based artists, their working experience and lifestyles based on their past experience, as well as their stories of how to combine individual creation with projects in business, reporting documentary and education.

"I feel that I have seen a more real side of the artists. They will also get confused and ponder, and when facing commercialization, they will undergo the process from resisting to accepting. In particular, I found out that Ms. Peng Ke was my high school alumna after chatting with her. It was a magical encounter." She hoped that UAC could hold more such lectures.

                                                                                                                                                    ——Li Wei

 

"Enlighten the imagination of students trapped in the involution, even if it was only a glimpse”. “It was interesting that Ms. Peng Ke drew an analogy between the methodology of artistic creation and cake making. Images, texts, and artists’ personal experiences were also fascinating. I could feel Mr. Zhao and Ms. Peng’s sincerity and charm from between their words. "

                                                                                                                                      ——Zhang Guowei

"Many students attended this lecture, even coming all the way back from outside, which was already surprising and delighting. "

                                                                                                                                           ——Liu Zhuoran

 

 

04【Practical Application Course】

 

"This workshop successfully enabled the beginners to master the basic functions of using these sorts of software. More importantly, inspired by Ms. Peng, I realized how software and technology could help us better express our subjective, nuanced thoughts and emotions. "

                                                                                                                                       ——Huang Yingyu

 

 

05【The Exhibition "Play Under the Table”】

 

After one-month preparation, the exhibition opened as scheduled on July 2nd. The exhibition includes some graphic artworks by artists Peng Ke and Zhao Qian from 2019 to 2021, sand play device and the unique artworks of the students who participated in the Ballooning workshops to co-create with “images, texts and objects”.

 

 

【Students Works】

 

Milk Tea Breast - Liu Zhuoran - Inkjet Printing - 40x60cm - 2021

 

Time and Space Map-Yu Zhe-Comprehensive Materials-Dimensions Variable-2021

 

"Map of Time and Space"

 

Cherenkov radiation - Wu Yue, Tang Jiayin - acrylic,

Copper sulfate solution-11cmx11cmx11cm-2021

 

Indicator 1-Chen Hongzhou-Art Micro-spray,

3D projection fan-100cmx60cmx18cm-2021

 

Presentation of a Self-referential Performance-Wang Yifan-Printing Paper-Variable Size-2021

 

Dust spray is a new visual code-Zhang Xuan-

Digital Print-Instant Shot-30cmx45cm-2021

 

 

06【Artist-guided Exhibition Tour】

 

"Lovely observation angle, delicate light and shadow overlap. We look for rules and break rules. What is left is a piece of frozen time."

                                                                                                                                  ——Yang Chengyang

 

 

【About the Artists】

Peng Ke

She focuses on urban experience and image production.

Peng Ke won the Abigail Cohen Fellowship by Magnum Foundation, Fondazione EMGdotART Prize, Hahnemühle New Talent Photography Award, and was nominated for Huayu Youth Award, Foam Paul Huf Award and Jimei x Arles Discovery Award.

 

 

Zhao Qian

He focuses on human activities and the environment around him.

Zhao Qian is the recipient of the 2019 Annual Photography Fellowship Awards by Houston Center For Photography and named as a finalist for the 2020 Huayu Youth Award.

Zhao Qian has received fellowships for artist-in-residence programmes held by Points Center for Contemporary Art, The Cow House Studio, Vermont Studio Center and Kala Art Institute.

In 2017, his first monograph "Offcut, the edge" was published by Jiazazhi Press.

 

 

【Play Under】

 

Play Under is a learning group exploring the language of image cultures. It was established in Shanghai in 2020. The group is committed to providing a relaxing environment for discussion on images and the forms of practice include translation, writing, offline activities, publications, and artists collaboration projects.

"Play under" is to explore the possibility that we treat practice and communication in a relaxed way. It is also self-evident that we are still in an established and relatively closed system. And the image is paradoxical: it seems to be right and it may also be wrong.

 

 

 

【The  Artist-in-Residence  Programme】

In 2016, the University initiated the Artist-in-Residence Programme to create an artistic atmosphere on campus and to elevate student's aesthetic taste. We regularly invite top artists from various fields to reside on campus, create artworks and hold workshops with students. The programme may last 5-10 days or 1-2 months. Artists will work with or guide students to create or appreciate artworks through workshops or lectures. Artists will also take into account resources available off campus to contribute towards our development.

 

 

University Arts Centre

To bring students closer to culture and art

To make the"DREAM" come true