Whenever traveling alone, one can be especially indulged in the missing complex. Every trivia seems to be a fragment of memory or feelings for someone. A piece of paper, a glass of wine, or even a segment of a melody is able to bring back infinite memory. The reality and virtuality are interlaced as undulant emotion, while the scenery outside the window is whizzed by.



Sydney is a city that seems to be familiar, but it is also quite foreign. It seems to exist in a boundless fantasyland, like that of the impression of the Opera House. The white Opera House, which is like a non-existent center: a real but non-existent virtuality, can only copy fantasy as symbols.



Curated by Tsen Wang, who just returned from the residency program in Sydney, this exhibition will be held for the first time in Der-horng Art Gallery. The artistic works range from video and painting, to photography. Through recording and dialogue, the works are used to embody the inescapable reality of the post-capitalist society, and to reflect various kinds of contradictory but intertwined complexes, including social class, cultural shock, and consumption phenomena. Wang aims to highlight the important concepts and thoughts emphasized by the contemporary arts during a time in which commercial symbols and packages are highly emphasized. As the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard stated, “the places we live have already become the fantasy of beauty in reality.” Similarly, using mundane experiences as a starting point, Wang leads the audience to rediscover the existing beauty and stories from our daily lives, from a newspaper or a chocolate bar, to a bowl of instant noodles.



The staff at ArtSpace, Sydney was helpful during my residency. The Director, living management team, space management team, curators, and technicians made an excellent and holistic team. Artists received full assistance in living arrangements: everything was readily available from the kitchen and laundry, to bedroom supplies. Artists did not have to worry about trivial life matters. It was like living in an international-scale hotel with an art twist. ArtSpace is located in the Gunnery Building, which is right by the harbor and is filled with rich history. It sits beside the famous Finger Wharf, Woolloomooloo, Art Gallery NSW, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Finger Wharf stretches into Sydney Gulf like a finger. The giant harbor warehouse has now become the famous W Hotel. One could spot navy fleets, yachts, sailboats, and sometimes even entertainment superstars in high-end restaurants near the water. It was a splendid scene.