Paradise Stories

About

Both interpret modern day paradise in response to rapid economic progress and man's attempt to make sense of living since our supposed fall.

Yung's decision to deploy paradise in two sites; RENEW Rooms and The International Gallery, has been arrived at as part of the curatorial and artistic process. Both venues are physically located within a burgeoning 2008 Capital of Culture, yet it is also important for Yung to invite interpretations of Paradise from across our continents. For this reason, Yung's own interdisciplinary recreation of paradise will grow within the highly polished traditionally architecture/design space of RENEW Rooms. Meanwhile, Yung deploys the alternative space of The International Gallery to orchestrate works of eight selected international artists who instigate their own investigations into the utopian ideal.

Yung's transformation of RENEW Rooms will focus upon stories from Liverpool's inhabitants across boroughs, backgrounds, ages, occupations and ethnicities. Through interconnected one to one investigations to chance meetings, her installation crosses sculpture to live performance, and eight video shorts installed feature moving image and sonic from hypnotic 'Wildflower' and 'Rain' to an immersive meeting with Buddhism in 'Ordained'. Together they voice our modern day vices, loss, aspirations and solidarity.

Simultaneously in The International gallery, Yung curates the works of eight artists from San Francisco to Stuttgart. Their work spans live performance and sound art to photography, together collaging a physical paradise that questions its universalism. The artists selected are:

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

Paradise Stories will not only be a reflection on what we lack across religious, political, economic 'Paradise', but perhaps bring a little utopian joy into the lives of our city; a physical bi-polaric that surely facilitates more paradise for more people.