FIRST CITYA 2021

CITYA is an alternative type of large-scale international art exchange programme and exhibition between six global cities including Beijing, Hong Kong, Macao, Rome, San Francisco and Tallinn. It is a long-term project that will occur every three years to build collaborations between international art institutions and organizations. The project is based upon the theme of ‘City as a medium’, and revolves around the complex relationships between cities themselves, artists living and working within city contexts and the educational and city based institutional frameworks and structures for art production and display.

City as a Medium

Four years ago, a group of curators began a discussion on the topic “City as a Medium”. The idea was inspired by social theorist Henri Lefebvre as he stated, “the art of living in the city as a work of art” in his collection of essays Right to the City. The exploration led to a new notion in the curators’ minds; the purpose of art is not simply to beautify the city or serve as a memento, the city in itself is a “work” of art or an oeuvre which involves citizen’s right of participation as play. Under the influence of the pandemic, people have carried on living as “global citizens” relying much more on the means of the internet. Meanwhile, they still continue to live within real physical spaces of their own cities. So how do artists reinterpret the art of living in both their own actual cities and the expanding virtual cities? What could the future of art entail when the very meaning of “city” has been transformed after the change? The exhibition invites artists to express their thoughts through their practices within the theme “City as a medium”. Artists are encouraged to interpret the same theme in post-pandemic, and whilst confronting social injustice. CITYA explores the interrelationship of spatiality between the actual space and digital space by considering the display methodologies and their effects on artistic responses.

ARTISTS FROM 6 CITIES

Beijing, Hong Kong, Macao, Tallinn, Rome, San Francisco

Implementing the idea of working together via humanity as a connection between the cities, CITYA features works from 8 art organizations of 6 different cities, Works of digitally friendly mediums such as new media arts, paintings, photography and video arts will be exhibited alongside traditionally onsite displayed forms such as sculptures and installations. 

The exhibition is to create an alternative horizon of digital curation as a way of broadening awareness of the cultural landscape of these cities through contemporary art and exhibition making in the virtual art scene.

ORGANISER

International Art Exchange - IAE Co Ltd : https://www.iaeiae.art/