aliveness_symbiosis_on K-rd 2021

Aliveness_Symbiosis
_on K-RD

19 Feb 2021 - 13 Mar 2021

We walk into human-made spider webs. The spider webs are exaggerated and modified from its natural size and form. We mingle with it. We can walk, rest, chat and eat freely around it ignoring its existence.

Humans are members of the ecological community on our planet, as are
any other living organism. Unconsciously or consciously and intentionally
or unintentionally, we break the balance and disturb our ecological system
causing a global issue. Our complex society and relationships have balance
and tension like the form of the spider web. My ongoing installation project Aliveness_Symbiosis represents that we live in our place without noticing that we are sharing our nature and living together with numerous cohabitants.

Aliveness_Symbiosis_on K-rd is a site-specific installation in the RM gallery
which is located on Karangahape Road. Space M by the window is a transitional moment linking from my first installation of‘ Aliveness_Symbiosis’

at Karekare in 2020. A bunch of tangled thread and natural objects on the
floor are parts of that installation. With full sunshine through the window,
Space M evokes a feeling of nature even in the office type of space. It seems the space is located in between soft nature and modified urban nature. One tiny line crawls out from the bunch of thread and expands into the whole space, emerging into a natural character. In Space R, the spider webs are created with selected materials and colours with the vibe of K-rd from my perspective. The vertical shape of an urban object is standing against the horizontal shape of spider webs. Various fluorescent lights imply the vibrant atmosphere and mixed culture of generations, ethnicity, gender and class on K-rd utilising diverse kinds of cords.

Just like the residency in Karekare, Auckland entered a lockdown as this installation was in progress. Without the normal atmosphere of Karangahape Road, there was a silence to make and think which strongly influenced the final outcomes of this project.

> RM Gallery & Project Space

> Collecting rain, collecting signs Essay by Amy Weng

Spider Webs

The School Track in Paihia, Bay of Islands

2020 Photo by Sena Park

Aliveness_Symbiosis_on K-RD 2021 Installation at RM

Edit by Sena Park/ Still photography by Scott Cai

Aliveness_Symbiosis_at Karekare house 2020

My first installation of Aliveness_Symbiosis was made on the outdoor dining deck during the Karekare residency in 2020. As the dining deck is the place where people gather and socialize, it was my desire that we could enjoy our regular life entertainment under my giant spider-web installation. I installed it day by day, little by little. In the middle of this progress, the 2nd Alert Level 3.5 lockdown was announced. The Karekare village, already such a remote place compared to central Auckland, became isolated furthermore. We stayed in our bubble and it brought me back to how I felt during the first lockdown. It was a wonderful time to concentrate on my art project. The lockdown was continued until my residency finished and I had restrictions on visits from the public. However, with a limited number of pre-booked audiences, I could share my experience and gather with visitors under the human-made spider webs.

Aliveness_Symbiosis_on K-RD [Part 1]

Since I completed the first installation with the idea of human-made spider webs in 2020, I planned to make a series of Aliveness_Symbiosis at different locations. A chance of a second project of Aliveness_Symbiosis series was given at RM gallery on K-Rd. My exhibition was scheduled at the last minute. I struggled to research and collect a kind of vibe of the location where the RM gallery is. I thought I was having a difficult time due to lack of time. I couldn’t feel much and I didn’t understand the space. I knew that something was missing, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. I have started to install from 2pm on Sunday. In the middle of installing, I heard my phone beep many times continuously. I just ignored those messages and it was frustrating for installing.
Once I checked all the messages, it was about the 3rd Level 3 lockdown announcement. I felt the fear of Covid-19. Meanwhile, I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed at the same time. I received a message that my exhibition will be postponed. I stepped back and had time to organise my thoughts in the empty gallery space.
My head became so fresh. Unclear thoughts were getting clear and I was starting to feel the atmosphere of the place.
In the next day which was first day of the lockdown, K-Rd looked very empty. Even it was rain. When I was going back home the night before, it was still crowded and seemed like party time. But, the next day was totally different from the day before. Many people were wearing masks. I saw a number of closed signs on the shop’s doors. I ordered take away coffee keeping a distance and went to the gallery. It was so calm. The downstairs restaurant was still open as usual even though only takeaway was accepted. After a long day of installing, I came out earlier than last night about at 10:30pm. But, the roller door of the building was already shut down. I was locked in the building. I felt I was alone entirely in the middle of city at that moment.

Aliveness_Symbiosis_on K-RD [Part 2]

After we entered the lockdown again, I realised my idea was inspired during the first lockdown. My first installation of the series ‘Aliveness_Symbiosis’ was completed during the 2nd Lockdown. When I started to prepare for the RM gallery exhibition, I was not aware that our living cycle was almost returning back to normal, unlike the time I got the idea of ‘Aliveness_Symbiosis’. I found an answer for why I couldn’t really get the feeling and vibe of the place. After lockdown was announced, I fully absorbed and clarified my idea. Coincidently without any intention, all my circumstances have changed and went back to the time when my idea was started. It was a perfect condition and a precious chance for my installation.
If somebody asks me about any difference from previous times, I met a cockroach everyday rather than spiders.
My installation was almost revealing the spider webs’ form in the mid-day of Wednesday. In the late afternoon, we went down to Alert Level 2 lockdown.