Lai Chiu-Chen｜2020 Taiwan Biennial: Subzoology

Lai Chiu-Chen was invited to participate in the 7th "2020 Taiwan Biennial: Subzoology" organized by "National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts"

Treating "Subzoology" as its theme and the "Buddhist path of reincarnation into animals" as its entry point, along with its reference to the ten types of sentient beings in the Diamond Sutra, the 2020 Taiwan Biennial seeks to cogitate upon the long-term human plunderage and dominance over natural creatures as well as to reflect on how humans can co-exist with other sentient beings in the post-pandemic era from the angle of the mutation of viruses and their transmission between humans and animals, insofar as to echo and extend the ecological and environmental issues in the Anthropocene that have come under the spotlight at many international biennials.

Lai Chiu-Chen's category "The Sixth Genre: Beast Mimic/Torured Beastnoid" refers to that beast mimic refers to that the human imitate animals their inherent abilities and transform them into intelligible symbols, thereby creating readable images of tribes/city states/countries/enterprises. They gradually develop respectable, excellent and coherent powers by civilizing themselves. Relying on their special gifts, these anthropomorphic creatures serve as the virtual heroes who save humankind and prevent the earth from apocalypse. Yet, nobody cares about how these appropriated animals feel, animals are silenced mainly because humans lack compassion. We can see the apotheosis of these convicts in ancient myths are happy to appropriate the images to strike a balance between arms/intimidation/coercion and laws/rewards/ promises. Such is the ultimate cause of human be prisoned and suffering in the jail built by them. They mistake delusion for reality. Only after they peel away the layers of disguises will they be aware of the fact that they possess nothing at all, and they can do nothing but shed silent tears! ——The article is excerpted from the curatorial statement. 

Lai Chiu-Chen, 1970 born in Chiufen, Taiwan, graduated from M.F.A., Taipei National University of Arts, Taiwan, has won many awards, including Dr. Stanley Ho Foundation Art Award in 2016, First Prize of Taipei Arts Award in 2003, Honorable Mention of 4th DEOA Art Criticism Award in 2002, First Prize from 1st Year of Kuo Po-Chuan Fine Arts Award in 2000, First Prize from 2nd Year of Tunghua Rotary Club Fine Arts Award in 1999, and First Prize from The 4th Annual Grand Award of Prix de Paris in 1996. His works were collected by several significant art museums, including Long Museum, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.

2020 Taiwan Biennial Official Website
https://2020taiwanbiennial.ntmofa.gov.tw/home/en-us

Introduction of Lai Chiu-Chen's category "TheSixth Genre: Beast Mimic/Torured Beastnoid"
https://2020taiwanbiennial.ntmofa.gov.tw/home/en-us/Artists06