Artists
Photo Credit: NIU Chun-Chiang
LAI Pei-Yu
LAI Pei-Yu
| Location | USA / New York, NY |
|---|---|
| Residency | International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) |
| Year of the Grant | 2009 |
| Personal Website | LAI Pei-Yu's Personal Website |
Artist Statement:
In this neon theater that is our modern society, prosperity, light, speed, and crowd fill our lives. It provides us with a certain unspoken sense of security. Our consumerist civilization thus becomes another form of home, a sort of origin. This home, regardless of its physical site, seems to construct within itself a society’s collective memory and collective consciousness. A sense of searching and belonging develops in constant transitions between foreign places. These places are not limited to geographical sites as on a map or actual perceivable locations, but include an ever-evolving sense of searching and belonging. My observations are reflected in my work. With personal experiences in foreign places, as well as identifying familiarities from unknown cultures, I attempt to present the concept of ‘revisiting’ in my work.
My experiences from my residency in New York are influential to my art practice and career. Prior to my artist residency, I had mostly focused my research on space and documentation around Asia. I thought of the connection between Asian cities and cities around the world. I realized the necessity to reach out from Asia and chose the West as a site for further research and response. New York is a city with diverse and abundant global connections. It supports thriving arts activities, countless shows, and never-ending inspirations. During my residency, I had the opportunity to exchange ideas with local artists and art professionals. I learned more about the city’s art environment, as well as the way its art spaces function. These were precious moments during my time at ISCP.