“Fever Genesis” is a contemporary art exhibition curated by the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB) and hosted by Culture Lab LIC. The exhibition, running from July 6-30 in Long Island City, will feature a collection of experimental and innovative artwork by six talented Taiwanese contemporary artists in various forms, such as installation, photography, and video art.
C-LAB was established in 2018 by the Ministry of Culture’s Taiwan Living Arts Foundation as an incubation hub for mutual development of contemporary art, media and technology, with innovation as a core directive. C-LAB curator Wu Dar-Kuen noted that he appreciates the opportunity to bring a slice of contemporary Taiwanese art to New York, explaining that exhibitions like Fever Genesis help elevate its visibility on the international stage.
Regarding the exhibition’s title, Wu added that “It invokes the metaphor of the biblical prophecy of Genesis — tracing the origin of ‘creation’ — to represent human beings’ constant, passionate experimentation and pursuit of technology development and artistic creation. It also questions whether humanity is prepared to bear the unknown risk of their relentless quest for technological progress.”
Through the exhibition, audiences are invited to contemplate the diverse relationships among technology, art, and society from past to present to future, including the risks associated with consumerism and broader contemporary society as well as the environmental and social impact. Audience members will also have an opportunity to interact with the artists and curator at an artist talk on July 8 at 5 pm, followed by the exhibition’s opening reception at 6 pm.
The exhibition includes Li Yi-Fan’s howdoyouturnthison, a Taishin Arts Award winner which responds to the effects of the digital age with unique black humor; Hu Nung-Hsin’s Touching the Rumble of Melting, a poetic film reflecting on how the global environment intertwines with the fragile polar landscape; Hypothesis Voyager by Lin Tzu-Huan, a ritualistic installation in which cameras serve as a medium taking viewers through time and space; Wu Chia-Yun’s Islands of Disappearing, representing a common yet bizarre streetscape in New York City after Christmas; Hominins by Wu Chi-Yu, a video inspired by the prehistoric cave painting on Sulawesi that takes audiences through the process of evolution; and Chang Li-Ren’s Battle City, comprised of animated films made over a decade epitomizing the aesthetics of world-weariness in the era of consumerism.
This exhibition is made possible by the Taipei Cultural Center in New York and Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture.
About Fever Genesis
▸▸Hours｜07/06-07/30: Thursday/Friday 5:00-9:00 pm (ET); Saturday/Sunday 2:00-9:00 pm
▸▸Venue｜Culture Lab LIC－Gallery 2-3, Theater (5-25 46th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101)
▸▸Curator｜Wu Dar-Kuen 吳達坤
▸▸Participating Artists｜(Please click on the hyperlinks for more details)
Li Yi-Fan 李亦凡
Hu Nung-Hsin 胡農欣
Lin Tzu-Huan 林子桓
Wu Chia-Yun 吳家昀
Wu Chi-Yu 吳其育
Chang Li-Ren 張立人
▸▸Artist Talk & Opening Reception｜Saturday, July 8, 2023, 5:00pm & 6:00pm
▸▸Free Admission
About Culture Lab LIC
Culture Lab LIC is a 501(c)(3) formed to be the arts and culture umbrella for Western Queens. It presents local, national, and international art of all genres, while supporting New York artists and other nonprofits by providing space, resources and a sense of community. Operating out of a 12,000 square foot converted warehouse, Culture Lab LIC hosts two fine art galleries, an 80 seat theater, classroom space, an 18,000 square foot outdoor venue, and a robust residency program. Culture Lab LIC is dedicated to upholding, equity, diversity and inclusion across all its platforms.