State-less Exhibition 無國界

A Two Temple Place & Kakilang Exhibition

11th March 2023 – 9th April 2023

A new exhibition examines the world through the photographic and digital works of internationally acclaimed East and Southeast Asian artists.

State-less 無國界 asks what it means to have a complex identity, influenced by background as well as country of origin, how East and Southeast Asian heritage can engage politically, and how it can challenge the wider public.  In this four-week exhibition, we will examine how these artists make sense of their environment.  What are the tangible borders and invisible boundaries that define their identities?  From Vietnamese refugees’ historical migration routes, urban sounds of Taiwan, post-Tsunami Japan, through to permaculture in Hong Kong, works here will present aspects of the region rarely explored by Western audiences.

The artists exhibited in State-less 無國界 are Tiffany Chung (Vietnam/US), Tsui Kuang-Yu (Taiwan), Jess Lau (Hong Kong), Natalie Lo Lai Lai (Hong Kong), Donald Shek (UK), Wu Tsan-Cheng (Taiwan), Wang Wei (China/UK), Li Yongzheng (China), Law Yuk-Mui (Hong Kong), Robert Zhao Ren Hui (Singapore).

Alongside State-less, a CAN x Two Temple Place Digital Exhibition will also present a virtual version of the exhibition in the award-winning 3D digital ‘Two Temple Place’ created during the two organisations’ 2021 partnership.

State-less 無國界 at Two Temple Place forms part of the Kakilang Festival 2023, which features cultural events across London.  The exhibition is conceived and curated by designer, artist and Kakilang Associate Artistic Director Ling Tan with Two Temple Place.

Kakilang (formerly known as Chinese Arts Now) produces and presents world-class art, and pioneers multi-disciplinary art forms from a wide spectrum of East and Southeast Asian voices.  Kakilang means ‘one of us’ in Hokkien, and is widely used across East and Southeast Asia, evoking kinship and affinity. Kakilang aims to: bring people together through art; build art that demands equality; create with artists at the core; generate a space where art forms intersect, inspire, play with and talk to each other; and seek ways to address larger global issues by engaging people through the arts.  Kakilang runs a year-round programme of activities and an annual Arts Festival.

Artistic Director An-Ting said, “At Kakilang, we are committed to creative collaboration, so we are delighted to be working again with Two Temple Place, presenting the work of these remarkable artists and creating a new context for their work.  Exploring the huge themes of identity, belonging and alienation within this complex historic venue offers new ways of looking and understanding.”

For further details go to the Two Temple Place Website