Based on past residency experiences with artists and groups in Thailand, Japan, Denmark, Malaysia, and Vietnam, Absolute Arts Group initiates the Absolute Space AIR program in 2024.

 

The program continues to engage with local communities and elements, and invites artists to adopt and translate local culture in their works, events, or exhibitions. By inviting institution operators, curators, and artists to Tainan, we create opportunities to work with local artists. For example, Anothai Oupkum (Thailand) and Shinya Akutagawa (Japan) curated the show “Touch Far Away” in 2017. In 2018, Lostgens' contemporary art space from Malaysia organized “Presentation and Forum of Field Research in Tainan's City Blocks and Communities”. In 2019, we presented “Different Places: Taiwan-Vietnam Exchange Symposium”.

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We also recognize that many potential “dialogues” and “ideas” require certain actions or activities to trigger. Besides final exhibitions, it’s also important for international artists to engage, interact, and discuss with the public, residents, and art students over time. Physical spaces can be adjusted according to their reflections. Every international experience offers valuable feedback to us. Through conversations, we contemplate on how physical spaces connect and relate to cities and communities.

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Participating artists will stay in a dynamic artist community, with opportunities to communicate with other art spaces and artists about techniques and ideas. The residency spaces are located in the older part of downtown Tainan City. Artists can feel and experience local history, culture, landscape, food, and temple customs that mix old and new. Many important artists across generations also live in Tainan, and visiting artists will have many chances to interact with them. We hope lively communities and local cultures will be inspiring to artists during their residency. 

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During the residency, we provide accommodation, workspaces, exhibition spaces, and a great creative environment. The program also enriches international exchanges in Tainan. Besides our existing space, we also add SanHo Art Lab to provide more available spaces to creators.The program provides creative opportunities to artists, and enables engagement between local and international artists. It’s also a new way to introduce art to local population.