Exhibition

Shoot the Pianist - the Noise Scene in Taipei: 1990-1995

26 Mar 2015 – 2 Apr 2015

Regular hours

Thursday
10:00 – 20:00
Friday
10:00 – 20:00
Monday
10:00 – 20:00
Tuesday
10:00 – 20:00
Wednesday
10:00 – 20:00

Cost of entry

free

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Peltz Gallery

London, United Kingdom

Address

Travel Information

  • Euston or Euston Square
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This exhibition revisits the underground noise scenes in Taipei during the first-half of the 1990s. The title, Shoot the Pianist, is taken from a dystopian parable written by the Taiwanese noise band LTK Commune, which depicts how the social system of Taiwan gradually collapses when a number of classical pianists are shot dead and ‘the nation becomes under the control of a bunch of pang-ke (punks)’.

About

Following the lifting of Martial Law and the Wild Lily Student Movement, the early 1990s in Taiwan saw a critical transition from an authoritarian regime towards an increasingly democratic polity and a neoliberal capitalist society. It was also a period when the underground scene around the capital city of Taipei was booming. Utilising emerging alternative art spaces and outdoor festivals as platforms, young artists and cultural workers explored various cultural forms, ranging from noise performances, junk art, ‘little theatre’, installation, fanzine, underground comics and experimental film, as ways to challenge mainstream culture and what they perceived to be an institutional artworld. Their practices would be described as the ‘underground noise movement’ in later years.

‘Shoot the Pianist- The Noise Scene in Taipei: 1990-1995’ held at the Peltz Gallery will for the first time in the UK, trace the historical development of these local noise scenes with archival materials, including handbills, ‘zines, photographs, moving-images, homemade cassettes and records from alternative spaces Sickly Sweet and Apartment No. 2; the art group, Taiwan Documenta; the noise bands, Z.S.L.O. and LTK Commune; Taipei Broken Life Festival (1994/95) and the first local record label focusing on experimental sound, NOISE. These historical documents will be augmented by prolific Taiwanese artists Hou Chun-ming and Yao Jui-chung’s works, which include prints and photography documenting the urban ruins in the early 1990s.

Several related events will be held in conjunction with this exhibition, in both London and Glasgow. The first is a screening held at Birkbeck Cinema, where the films of Taiwanese filmmakers Huang Ming-chuan and Singing Chen’s will be screened. These films which document Taiwan’s noise and sound art scenes will be followed by a panel discussion. The second event will be a live sound art performance where Taiwanese sound artists, Wang Fujui, Lin Chiwei and Dino (Liao Ming-he) will be performing in collaboration with UK-based sound artist, Michael Speers and Kenny Love, at Café OTO in East London. Both the screening and the performance will then tour Glasgow, as a part of the Counterflows Festival 2015 programme.

‘Shoot the Pianist- the Noise Scene in Taipei: 1990-1995’ is curated by Yu Wei, as a part of the Taiwan Spotlight Project, presented by both Birkbeck, University of London and the Taipei Representative Office in the UK. The Taiwan Spotlight Project is funded by the Ministry of Culture (Republic of China, Taiwan) and by the generosity of Dr Samuel Yin.

EVENTS

// Opening Party //

Monday 30th March 2015, 19.00
The Peltz Gallery, Birkbeck, School of Arts,
43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD

// Films and Discussion //

London

Tuesday 31st March 2015, 17.00-21.00 | FREE
Birkbeck Cinema, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD

1995 Post-Industrial Arts Festival
Huang Mingchuan│Taiwan│1995│61min

Ears Switched Off and On
Singing Chen│Taiwan│2009-2011│93min

Followed by a post-screening discussion
Entry to the film screening is free but booking is required. Please visit:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shoot-the-pianist-the-noise-scene-in-taipei-1990-1995-film-screening-tickets-16087136057

Glasgow

Saturday 4th April 2015, 13.30 | £3
CCA Cinema, CCA Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow
Counterflows Festival

Ears Switched Off and On
Singing Chen│Taiwan│2009-2011│93min
Followed by a post-screening discussion

// Live Performance //

London

Thursday 2nd April 2015, 19.30 doors | FREE
Café OTO, 18-22 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL

Wang Fujui (Taiwan)
Dino (Taiwan)
Lin Chiwei (Taiwan)+ Musarc (UK)
Michael Speers (UK)
Kenny Love (UK)

For more details please visit: https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/events/lin-chi-wei-fujui-wang-dino/

Glasgow

Saturday 4th April 19:45 doors | £6
CCA5 Theatre, CCA Centre for Contemporary Art,
Counterflows Festival

Wang Fujui (Taiwan)
Dino (Taiwan)
Lin Chiwei (Taiwan)+ The Glad Choir (UK)

Book your ticket: http://counterflows.com/lin-chiwei-wang-fujui-dino/

CuratorsToggle

WEI YU

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