2025 NEXT ART TAINAN ⇀ Invisible Ocean, Growing City：Weng Jhen-Ling X Takahiko Suzuki

Duration｜2025.03.13 (thu) - 04.13 (sun)

Artist｜Weng Jhen-Ling X Takahiko Suzuki

Venue｜Absolute Space for the Arts

Opening｜2025.03.22 (sat) 15:00

Forum｜2025.03.22 (sat) 15:30

Forum Guest｜Weng Jhen-Ling × Hsi-Chuan LIU

ₒ॰°৹º Exhibition Statement ₒ॰°৹º

Curator / Nobuo TAKAMORI

Tainan is an ever-growing city. Because of sediment accumulation, the Taijiang Inner Sea, the vast lagoon once depicted in 17th-centry Dutch maps, has gradually vanished in the changing natural landscape. In 1655, when the Dutch VOC completed building Fort Provintia (now Chihkan Tower), the coastline of the Taijiang Inner Sea was still to the west of the fortress. But by the late 18th century, the coastline had receded far from the town district of Chihkan Tower. Beginning from the Japanese ruling period, southern Taiwan's shipping hub gradually shifted from Anping to what is now Kaohsiung Port. As we review Tainan's geographical records, we find that its coastlines have been in a constant state of transformation. This also signifies that Tainan is a city gradually expanding toward the sea. Meanwhile, if we look toward the north of Yanshui River, from Sicao and Annan all the way to the Qigu Lagoon and Beimen, the lagoon landscape remains intact and the boundary between the ocean and the land appears remarkably blurred.

Such a geographical landscape is in fact quite common along the west coast of Taiwan, leading to the gradual coastal land expansion. Given that Tainan is the first city in Taiwan's history with modern significance, Tainan's urban development and historical records allow us to further understand the details of its shifting coastlines and their relevance to the city's development. Strolling through the narrow alleys in old-town Tainan, one might unknowingly be walking over what was once open sea or a shallow tidal flat. As the locations of the ocean, lagoons, and waterways have shifted throughout different time periods, we can also wonder: which historical body of water does today's cityscape correspond to? Just like how many cities continue to develop and expand over time, Tainan's unique natural history has led the city to continuously expand and generate new cityscapes, gradually replacing existing lagoons through an organic development process.

Regarding the curatorial focus, this year's Next Art Tainan Award explores Tainan's organic growth and continuous evolution around waterscapes. It also features invited works that engage with the city's fluid nature and rich water heritage. As the Award enters its thirteenth edition, both for the organizers and curatorial team, we believe the Next Art Tainan Award serves as a unique platform connecting local and international art scenes and communities. We look forward not only to the outstanding works of emerging and international artists but also to welcoming visitors to Tainan for an artsy walk in the pleasant spring weather.

ₒ॰°৹º Artist ｜ Weng Jhen-Ling ₒ॰°৹º

Born in Taipei in 1996, he graduated from the National Taipei University of the Arts with a master's degree in the ink painting department of the Department of Fine Arts in 2024. He uses copper plate etching to depict his inner weird and weird thoughts. He won the Nanyang Award in 2022, the Kaohsiung Award in 2023, and was selected for the CTBC Trust Painting Award. , this year won the MIT Newcomer Award in 2024. "Compared to physical torture, mental torture is more terrifying." I feel the resonance. During the corrosion process, the diluted nitric acid liquid sticks to the skin and stings and itches, which makes me feel itchy. Able to gain a "security" that is no longer controlled and spurred.

For me, the copper plate is a complete piece of media. From the moment I apply the anti-corrosion liquid, I become the "controller". It carries the opposite appearance to my appearance, and the shape of the family. The image of the lady on the smooth copper plate is a rickety image, which is constantly copied and carved, like a scar that is about to heal and then opens.

This is a place of contradiction with oneself. Indulging in pain to satisfy the "security", but also wanting to escape. Therefore, in the process of creation, it is not only the copper plate's discussion of "self", but also more aspects of exploring different times and different situations. What does the "landscape of hell" look like in space and among different people and things?

This is a place of contradiction with oneself. Indulging in pain to satisfy the "security", but also wanting to escape. Therefore, in the process of creation, it is not only the copper plate's discussion of "self", but also more aspects of exploring different times and different situations. What does the "landscape of hell" look like in space and among different people and things?  

ₒ॰°৹º Artist ｜ Takahiko Suzuki ₒ॰°৹º

​Takahiko SUZUKI is a Japanese artist living in Taiwan. He was born in Shizuoka of Japan in 1962, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tama Art University in1985. Mr. SUZUKI left Japan in 2002 and he has accumulated many exhibition and resident experience around the world.

2006-2007, as a resident artist at Chiayi Railway Art Village. His career as an artist in Taiwan essentially began in Chiayi. It was during this period that the global-store project, which has continued for the past 15 years, was initiated.

"The overused cliche' term' 'globalization' is translated as 'cosmopolitanism' in Japanese, and it leaves me with an initial impression that 'the world is unified and equal,' even though it is the exact opposite."-Takahiko SUZUKI

Website: http://global-store.info/suzuki/other_projects/other_index.html

主辦單位｜臺南市政府文化局

協辦單位｜絕對空間

空間營運贊助｜國藝會