Here, We Breathe

Here, We Breathe, A4 x KADIST Video Exhibition

Elena Damiani, La Decanatura (Calderón & Piñeros), Luiz Roque, Pedro Neves Marques, and Uudam Tran Nguyen

Here, We Breathe is the second iteration of the annual A4 x KADIST series of curated programs that aim to create new ways to participate in the discourse of new media art and close the gap between the audience and new media art. The group exhibition examines the relationship between the past, the present, and ecology through moving images from the KADIST collection.

When we discuss “ecology”, what are we referring to? The etymology of “eco” comes from the word oikos in ancient Greek, which means a large family unit composed of houses, family members, farmland, and other properties. Yet, we also understand it as the cohabitating microorganisms, animals and plants, human society, urban and rural spaces, as well as the interplay between macro and micro emotions, objects and objects, and objects and ourselves. Fundamentally speaking, “ecology” refers to the environment in which we live and develop, physically, emotionally, and philosophically. “Ecology” extends from the natural environment in which organisms exist in a state of continuing to live or exist, always in symbiosis with each other.

While our understanding of ecology may vary, our existence as breathing, inhaling, and exhaling beings remains unchanged and we are always closely connected– a part of the system. Yet, a feeling of alienation permeates the environment, society, technology, politics, and culture. We are used to defining breathing from our own human points of view, but we always forget that breathing is part of daily life of everything. Featuring video works by the five international artists, the exhibition considers nature as well as experiences, desires, and perceptions beyond human-centered cognition.

Here, We Breathe takes place at the Eco Art Museum, a new space at the A4 Art Museum focusing on the theme of “ecology, technology, future” that aims at strengthening emotional connections between urban and natural ecologies through art.

Program
Elena Damiani, Intersticio (2012)
Uudam Tran Nguyen, Waltz of the Machine Equestrians (2012)
La Decanatura (Calderón & Piñeros), Centro Espacial Satelital de Colombia (2015)
Luiz Roque, Zero (2019)
Pedro Neves Marques, The Pudic Relation between Machine and Plant (2016)

Luxelakes • A4 Art Museum (formerly A4 Contemporary Arts Center) was founded by Chengdu Wide Horizon Investment Co., Ltd. in March 2008. Ms. Sunny Sun has been the director since its establishment. In August 2016, it moved to Luxelakes Arts Exhibition Center and formally registered as a private non-profit art museum. Designed by architect Antoine Predock, the main structure covers an area of 3,500 square meters, including three-floor independent exhibition halls, a lecture hall, a library, a Kids Space and an art store. Next to it are our permanent themed exhibition hall——the Eco Art Center and a grand theater of 650 seats. Meanwhile, the 2,400-square-meter Art Center of A4 Artist in Residence International Exchange Program is also opened to the public in 2019. With more multi-dimensional space, professional academic research as well as diversified exhibitions and public activities, A4 hopes to enhance its interaction and cooperation with communities, schools and cities to build a more public synthesis of art museum.