Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture

Jury’s Comments for the Annual Shortlist Award Winner

KAO Jun-Honn develops “The Ruin Image Crystal Project: 10 Scenes” from a profound local historic perspective with significant depth and breadth; the significance lies in the camps he dwelled in based on old photos of the sites. The sketches on the walls and arranged performances onsite are transcribed manifestation of modern Taiwan’s transition from colonial period to post-colonial era; with inter-witnessing of photographic images and texts, the twisted and forgotten heritages are displayed. The exhibition invites viewers to access and explore historic reflections of the ten sites. At this year’s “Asian Art Biennial”, KAO Jun-Honn’s live art combined various forms of art, such as records, actions, interviews, theatrical plays, and photographs. From personal realization to joint social practice with others, all aspects display the perceptive strengths as well as the rich aesthetic dimensions of this project. 

Comments on the Finalist

A long-term survey on geography from a profound local historic perspective, the significance of “The Ruin Image Crystal Project: 10 Scenes” lies in the onsite camps, and the paintings on the wall based on old photos of the sites, or the performances arranged to be held onsite. This is the transcribed manifestation of Taiwan’s transition from colonial period to post-colonial era; with inter-witnessing of photographic images and texts, the lost, hurt, hidden in the past and forgotten heritages are picked up, inviting viewers to wake up, or to explore and visit these places and reflect on the history. What is more intriguing is that at this year’s “Asian Art Biennial”, KAO Jun-Honn performed live himself. Here, the sense of history transcends all forms, such as records, actions, interviews, theatrical plays, and photographs; from personal realization to joint social practice with others, all aspects display the perceptive strengths, as well as the rich aesthetic dimensions of this project. (Commentator/ CHEN Tai-Song)

Artwork Introduction

KAO Jun-Honn's The Ruin Image Crystal Project: 10 Scenes was developed from a profound perspective on local history with serious depth and breadth. The project is based on historic images of neoliberalism in Taiwan after 1980. The significance of the work lies in the camps where he personally dwelled based on old photos of the sites. His methodology comprises ruin site research, excavation of archival documents, and the re-presentation and reenactment of historical photos. He has so far completed work on 10 sites and plans to continue. His ultimate goal is to physically act out and aestheticize the intersecting fields, casting anew the problems of neoliberalism in Taiwan. The works include the video Refraction of Li-Fong Coal Mine, in which the artist performed an art action in which he put on and removed 73 miners' work uniforms that were obtained from the ruins of Li-Fong coal mine, which in 2001 became the very last coal mine to close due to Taiwan's participation in the World Trade Organization. At the 2013 Asian Art Biennial, the artist's live performances combined various forms of art, such as records, actions, interviews, theatrical plays, and photographs.

Jury’s Comments for the Visual Arts Award Winner

Born in Taipei in 1973. His work focuses on themes such as history, multitudes, biopolitics,  neoliberalism, community, peripheries, gentrification, and East Asia. His practice encompasses mediums such as art action, video art, conceptual art, commentary, and fiction. He is now in the doctoral program of Art Creation and Theory from  Tainan National University of the Arts.