INTERVIEW BY PHOTOFAIR SHANGHAI: APPLYING TRADITIONAL PRACTICES TO CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY
影像上海藝術博覽會專訪《在當代攝影中實踐傳統技法》
IN FOCUS: Wu Chi-Tsung | Applying Traditional Practices to Contemporary Photography Taiwanese ‘on-the-radar’ artist Wu Chi-Tsung speaks to PHOTOFAIRS ahead of the Shanghai fair this month, where he will be exhibiting his fascinating works with Sean Kelly Gallery (New York & Taipei). Interestingly, Chi-Tsung clarifies during the interview that he does not identify as a ‘photographer’, instead, he merges and unifies his extensive knowledge of multiple mediums to create dynamic, tactile-looking, and memorable artworks. The dilemma, the artist states, of distinctly categorizing art forms (such as painting, photography and contemporary dance), results in a ‘trapped’ mindset, thus limiting the potential for artists to develop and challenge themselves. PHOTOFAIRS, as a world-class art fair, aim to promote artists such as Wu Chi-Tsung, who are pushing the boundaries of photography and posing the question of how should photography be defined. With an impressive portfolio including set-design, ink painting and video works, Chi-Tsung proudly represents what it means to be a contemporary artist in the 21st Century. We speak to the artist about breaking down barriers between mediums, the importance of preserving traditional methods and an exclusive step-by-step feature on how he creates the renowned ‘Cyano-Collage’ series… “Sometimes it worries me that we have abandoned too many valued experiences and methods in traditional art as we transform too resolutely.” PHOTOFAIRS: Your works display an exciting range of artistic mediums, such as painting, set design and photography. What is your thought process when deciding which medium to use for a project? What comes first, the idea and theme behind a project or the desire to use a specific medium? WU CHI-TSUNG: Either way could be possible. Generally speaking, whenever I conceive a new project in any form, the language of painting is always my archetype. Every artist has his/her mentality, and painting is mine. For instance, the idea of ‘randomness’ from the eastern painting tradition (which partly is due to the nature of ink paints) is deeply rooted in me when I create my video installations and photography, like the Cyano-Collage series. I also imagine my art world via the spirit of paintings. Part of PHOTOFAIRS’ objective is to…
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