Moderator: Guo Jau-Lan, Tsai Ming-Jiun

Guo Jau-Lan is an associate professor of modern / contemporary art, theories of art history, and curatorial practice at the Taipei National University of the Arts. Her doctoral dissertation specifically addressed the question as to how American art criticism formulated an anti-modernist version of post-modern art theory by interpreting Robert Rauschenberg and Neo-Dada in the 1960s. Focusing on image, visual culture, and the interplay between sound practice and visuality, her recent curatorial projects are briefly mentioned as follows. Curated by Guo, a collaborative project by Guo and Amy Cheng, the 3rd Taiwan International Video Biennial: Melancholy in Progress (2012) discussed conflicts and problems arising from the progression of modernity in the world’s various regions. Amnesia and Malevich’s Pharmacy (2016) framed seven sets of questions on public collection, art history, and modernity, serving as an aide-mémoire for those haven’t been collected yet. Revolving around the idea of “score,” Harsh Landscape: Sonic Cartography (2016) treated sound culture’s imaging approach as an alternative method for drawing maps of the future. Within the creative context dominated by visual arts, Sound Matters (2018) inquired into how the sound element assumed as belated takes a latecomer posture to simultaneously advance the problématiques in modern art’s reflexive discourse and contemporary transdisciplinary thinking. Apart from these curatorial projects, Guo also translated Boris Groys’ Art Power from English to Chinese (Artist Publishing, 2015).

Tsai Ming-Jiun was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1981, and Nantou is her hometown. She has been a nomad moving between different countries, cities and houses since age sixteen. As an observer, her long-term relationship with art – studying and working in the field of art since junior high school – stimulates her interests in the relationship between art, public and society. Recently, her care of environment, nature and biological issues leads her project into environment without walls. As an independent curator and artist, Tsai Ming-Jiun’s projects are often site and context specific involving working closely with different collaborators and producing commissions. Tsai Ming-Jiun is currently assistant professor in short-term contract in Tunghai University Department of Fine Arts. Her curatorial projects in recent three years include The Desired End of Spirit – Lee Chu-Hsin Solo Exhibition, 2019 Madou Sugar Industry Art Triennial, Oasis, Collective Negative Space Village – Ministry of Culture: Taiwan Air Force Innovation Base Experimental Architecture Project, Knead and Gain – Hou Chun-Ming, Body Image, Interview project and Post-Ecolonialism Project – Practice Rooted in Communities.