Artists

Photo Credit: NIU Chun-Chiang

Wen-Ying SHE

A Better Tomorrow by Working Hard was presented in Bethanien, Berlin, 2022, featuring a 6-channel spatial installation that showcases an unaudienced theatre.
From a highly personal perspective, the artist collected environmental sounds from a group of Indonesian fishermen, self-described as "Taiwan ABK, " as they worked, mended fishing nets, sailed out to sea, sang songs, and offered prayers in a portside town in southern Taiwan.
On the wall is a wish list written in Indonesian created by the fishing workers.
From a partially closed door in the distance, pray of the Muslim prayers could be heard.
The re-presentation of a portside gathering space of Indonesian fishermen in Southern Taiwan.
Artists live in their self-built tents.
Working Hard at the open studio day, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Germany.
Wen-Ying SHE and Po-Yu KUO, the artists of Working Hard, at the open studio day, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Germany.
A photo of Working Hard with Shieh Jhy-wey, the Taiwanese representative to Germany, on the opening day of A Better Tomorrow in Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Germany.
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Wen-Ying SHE

Location Germany / Berlin
Residency Künstlerhaus Bethanien
Year of the Grant 2021
Work A Better Tomorrow
Personal Website Wen-Ying SHE's Personal Website
The Taiwanese artistic duo, "Working Hard" has been the brainchild of the creative duo Wen-Ying SHE and Po-Yu KUO (She and Boy) since 2015. They work at the intersection of audio, sculpture, and installation. For them, Working Hard is more than just the name of their art collective but a method of aesthetic practice to reconstruct an imaginative space via archival approaches. Working Hard is interested in using art as a conjunction for creating conversations and shared experiences—to meet, talk, and learn from people about their histories. They emphasize ‘conversations’ and ‘experiences’ with people who have been subject to forms of discrimination and injustice. In recent years, they have traveled between Taiwan and Europe to participate in various exhibitions and workshops. Their art projects emphasize connections with local communities and reflect the social landscapes that are disappearing amid global crises.

From 2023 to 2024, Working Hard was the recipient of international residency artists, including Cité internationale des arts in Paris, France; GlogauAIR in Berlin, Germany; and Pedvāles Muzejs in Latvia. They were also awarded NEXT ART TAINAN and the Spatial Art Excellence Prize from the Kaohsiung Award.

Artist Statement:
The ongoing global pandemic and the uncertainties caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine have heightened risks and unrest in cross-border artistic exchange. Despite these challenges, we successfully began our residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien, located between the bustling districts of Kreuzberg and Neukölln. In German, Kreuzberg translates directly to "Cross Hill." This area was once on the boundary of the Berlin Wall and was known as West Berlin’s most impoverished region during the Cold War. Today, it has transformed into a vibrant district known for cultural and ethnic diversity, all sorts of bars and cafes, and creative street graffiti.

A Better Tomorrow, a new project launched during the residency, includes records of our interactions with Indonesian fishermen in Taiwan and a collection of sounds. From a personal perspective, we aim to establish channels of communication with immigrants and migrant workers in Berlin following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

In the early stages of the residency, the pandemic remained severe in Europe. Near the end of the exhibition, Berlin finally eased restrictions on gatherings in large venues, such as public spaces and museums. Künstlerhaus Bethanien also resumed public events such as Open Studios in May. We then set up the racks representing a fishing worker’s community for A Better Tomorrow in our studio and "moved in" to our work.

Many members of the art and cultural community were drawn to our display on the day of the event. We met 2 Ukrainian musicians who gave an impromptu performance in our studio. Through their singing, they shared their journey from Kyiv amid the war, traveling through Poland before arriving in Germany. This encounter deeply affected us, prompting us to reflect on and engage with the experiences of foreigners in Berlin. The battle of mankind against viruses, as well as the struggle among different races for resources, compels us to further explore these themes in our work.

Near the end of the residency, we had the pleasure of visiting the 15th Kassel Documenta, a prestigious international event held every 5 years, and participating in related activities organized by an Indonesian art group. Our focus on "issues from the South" in Europe became a crucial intersection of our creative work and life experiences. This experience inspired us to bring our Indonesian encounters in Germany back to Taiwan and to foster further exchange and dialogue with Indonesian fishing worker communities in Taiwan.

Author: Wen-Ying SHE
Edited: Brix
About Künstlerhaus Bethanien