Michael Lin has won acclaim for his unconventional paintings with patterned motifs taken from Taiwanese textiles. This new commission invited by MOCA is a major site-specific spatial painting for the museum’s entrance floor. It also cooperates with motifs of Indonesian and quasi Hawaiian textiles. The impact of COVID-19 has kept people from close contact and created tension among people. Lin’s painting will turn the entrance floor into an area that visitors will be able to interact and enjoy.
“Lin’s unconventional paintings invite visitors to reconsider their usual perception of those spaces, and to become an integral part of the work, giving meaning to the museum’s potential as an area for interaction, encounter, and re-creation.” said in a statement of the museum. Lin’s work will be extremely accessible to the public both whether it is in progress and after the installation is completed. It will also provide an optimistic and energetic visual impact for the museum and visitors. Apart from the exhibition, MOCA has planned a series of public programs to encourage broader audiences to engage more deeply with the work, including tours, artist talk, workshops and educational projects.
As for many of his monumental painting installations, Lin’s murals are painted by local artists under mentorship from Lin and his studio. There were 15 emerging artists to work on the project. These local artists received the benefit of experience working on a major exhibition, networking opportunities and mentorship from Lin. This painting process was opened to visitors, who could watch the patterns became more intricate and colorful during the month of October. Visitors would have opportunities to ask questions and understand painting techniques as a part of public participation.
Michael Lin is a leading Taiwanese contemporary painter and conceptual artist whose work has been exhibited internationally in major institutions and international Biennials around the world, including Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo; UCCA, Beijing; The Vancouver Art Gallery, Lyon Biennial; Singapore Biennial and the Towada Art Center, Japan.
《Archipelago Michael Lin》is the second major exhibition to present an artist from Eastern Asia. There are increasing number of Asian artists recently, thanks to the institution’s new Executive Director, Kathleen Bartels, who brings years of experience working with artists from Central and East Asia to MOCA. In addition, the museum’s Artist Director, November Paynter lived in Turkey for 15years and worked with numerous artist from across West Asia.
《Archipelago Michael Lin》
Museum of Contemporary Art, Toronto (158 Sterling Rd. Toronto ON Canada)
January 1– March 28, 2021(Tentative Date)
(Due to the pandemic, Toronto is in lockdown, the exhibition will open in 2021 to the public, the exact dates will be announced)
https://moca.ca/michael-lin-exhibition-2020