Kai-Oi Jay Yung: Paradise Stories

Who I'd like to meet:

Help me in the quest for Paradise...

Governments, urban planners, scientists, religious institutions and economists continue to seek implementation of a near utopian paradigm for the benefits of inhabitants and global positioning. Modern day living- our surroundings and realities of human nature/way things are however is often a satire on any idyllic notion of paradise.

Spurred by the endless quest to reach utopian ideas of Shambhala (Tibeten, Indian, Chinese…?), Paradise Stories seeks to unlock any ‘true’ notion of Liverpool/anyplace and its inhabitants through transformation of the gallery space into a multi-sensory environment/installation.

Arrived at through a process of investigation, chance meetings, and contrived participatory activity, Paradise Stories will emerge as a physical re-interpretation of the living city- its modern day desires, vices, corruption, loss, joy, aspirations, hope and solidarity.

Paradoxically mirroring the flux external to the city, it offers a mock sanctity remote to the noisy regeneration. Yet this sanctity itself is embroiled with yearnings symptomatic of the fall, inescapably unleashing the multifaceted consequences of man’s insatiable desires for Paradise.

ARTISTS AND VENUES

Paradise Stories will simultaneously inhabit two high profile venues within Liverpool.

I will transform the highly polished traditionally architecture/design space of the Renew Rooms to house my interdisciplinary interpretation of Paradise.

Simultaneously, I invite the work of 8 artists from Georgio to Stuttgart to voice their interpretation of paradise through a variety of artforms.

This physical bi-polaric will surely facilitate more paradise for more inhabitants.

RENEW Rooms: 4-28 March 2008

In the RENEW Rooms I focus on stories from Liverpool’s inhabitants, featuring subjects from a range of backgrounds, ages, occupations and ethnicities. Through interconnected one-to-one investigations, chance and contrived meetings, her installation crosses sculpture to video installation and live performance, voicing modern day vices, loss, aspirations and solidarity.

People can expect an assault on the senses at RENEW Rooms. Eight videos include an insight into a cab driver’s unsuspecting daily encounters, a feng shui expert talking about how the Chinese Archway was positioned using ancient techniques, and the raised voices from Afro-Caribbean mother and daughter ‘The Wentons’. Their thorny discussion delves into integration across Liverpool since the Toxteth riots. The videos are embedded amongst exuberant day-glow half-animal forms, at once humorous and sinister, and a plethora of explosive improvised jungle surroundings - even a water feature. There is respite though, as a shelter construction offers a degree of escape from the noise of the surrounding plastic Paradise.

The International Gallery: 4-21 March 2008

Work by 8 artists trying to find Paradise

With Chong Boon Pok, Didi Dunphy, Chris Eckersley, Maslen & Mehra, Kurtz & Beatty, Faye Peacock, Sari Lievonen, Kaspar Wimberley

Together the selected work creates a collage of artforms spanning live performance and sound art to photography. Audiences can interact with the interactive ‘Shadow Tracing’ event, a movement triggered instrumental installation ‘The Note C’, and dreamlike alienation worlds of Maslen and Mehra’s photographed light sculptures.

Preview of selected artist's work

VENUES and EXHIBITION TIMES

Dual private view of both exhibitions:

Tuesday, March 4, starting at the RENEW Rooms at 6pm, followed by street interaction piece leading to The International Gallery at 8pm.

Live performance and sonic at both venues, impromptu act by Juice Aleem (New Flesh, Coldcut) and turntabalism from Reuben Wu, Ladytron.

The RENEW Rooms, The Tea Factory, 82 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ

4-28 March 2008 (Weekdays 9-5pm, Sat/Sun 11-5pm. Closed

21-24/3/2008 Easter)

The International Gallery, 34A Slater Street, Liverpool, L1 4BX

4-21 March 2008 (Thursday-Sunday 12-6pm)

Funded by Culture Company, Liverpool, European Capital of Culture, 2008

For the latest Capital of Culture news visit www.liverpool08.com.

http://www.theartorganisation.co.uk/tao8%20liverpool.htm34a

I would also like to express thanks to Brian Wong

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