Yuan Goang-Ming to Present 'Everyday War' at Taiwan Pavilion in 60th Venice Biennale

Yuan Goang-Ming will represent Taiwan at the 60th Venice Biennale, running from 20 April to 24 November 2024. His exhibition, titled 'Everyday War', is installed in the Palazzo delle Prigioni, a former prison with court and torture chambers. The artist began planning the show before the pandemic, framing it as a metaphor for contemporary life where poetic dwelling is unattainable. A homelike setting with a couch aims to transform viewing into an empathetic space. Yuan describes war as expanding beyond military conflict to include postcapitalist inequality, pandemics, cyberattacks, climate anomalies, and racial oppression, creating a constant state of conflict as a new normal. The Biennale's theme, 'Foreigners Everywhere', resonates with his early video works exploring home, fluidity, and the subconscious. He views the event as an international platform for cultural exchange and visibility, particularly important for Taiwanese contemporary art due to Taiwan's unique political position. Yuan avoids the term 'national art', associating it with nationalism and propaganda, and notes that Taiwan's art history has been overlooked internationally rather than misunderstood. When asked about recommendations for understanding Taiwan, he cites people, natural landscape, and democracy. The artist looks forward to seeing unexpected and intriguing works in Venice.