INSIDE OUT - YEAR OF THE PIG 2007

PRESS RELEASE

A Thames Valley University and Trocadero Partnership

TVU Gallery Centro

Curated by Valerie Chang

Contemporary visual arts exhibition by selected artists from the Chinese Diaspora based in UK and Europe

LOCATION: TROCADERO LONDON – GROUND LEVEL AND BASEMENT
EXHIBITION RUNS: 18 FEBRUARY TO 11 MARCH 2007

PRIVATE VIEW LAUNCH:
SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2007 4PM TO 6.30PM

Speeches 4.15pm: Chris 0’Neil, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Thames Valley University, Faculty of the Arts, Mrs Diana Pagan, Mayor of Ealing, London Borough of Ealing

Performances – 3.50pm Chinese Lion Dance, Namyang Puglish Association Traditional Cantonese Opera, China Town Community Chinese Association Musicians and Live Art peformance.

Huiwen Cheung, Hi Ching, Tony Chung, Yingmei Duan, Chang Duo Guo, Louise Hagger, Pamela So, Edwin Barrington Lue-Shing, Adam Wei, Xing Zhang and selected works by  Liyun Wang and Lijia, Fung Kuen Ho who are current students and alumni from the Faculty of Arts, Thames Valley University.

Paintings, Prints, Photography, Installations, Mixed Media and Live Art Performances

DETAILS

Inside Out is an exciting mixed-media exhibition of recent and new works by artists of Chinese descent, the first exhibition of its kind displayed at the Trocadero Centre in the heart of central London. The artists hail from a diverse range of backgrounds; London, Bournemouth, Glasgow, Germany, China, Hong Kong and Singapore, and were selected for their originality, imagination, and enthusiasm. They represent a wide age range from the young emerging, to the more mature established and have exhibited on a National and International level.

This timely exhibition coincides with the Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of the Pig which represents a year of happiness, prosperity and well being. Some artists were born in the Year of the Pig and have responded enthusiastically to the symbol of the pig image and others have explored the idea of cultural identity.

The exhibition presents a group of artists spanning different generations, emerging from the British Chinese and European Arts scene whose work has been directly influenced by eastern and western cultural values, tradition and globalisation.

The exhibition takes you on an exploratory journey from several entrances and locations in the Trocadero. Artists present an eclectic mix of colourful self portraits, people, landscapes, traditional cultural images and object based work placed on walls, floors, plasma screens and window displays. 

At the main entrance of the show Hi Ching’s series of vibrant digital images of Chinese New Year lanterns taken in Singapore will be projected on plasma screens close to Ying Mei's Duan's DVD live art performance installations where she experiments with changing time and space.

Walking down the escalators, Huiwen Cheung's large scale dream like images of self portraits and her family will be displayed in front of several light screens near the entrance of the show.

From basement level Edwin Barrington Lui Shung’s print will draw you into the show. His life-size portrait represents the artists struggle and experience of being both inside and outside two cultures.  

Opposite, Adam Wei's imaginative wall-based installation painting is displayed on the side entrance of the exhibition. Further along he installs a recent painting behind the glass window of the MBar. His work is inspired by his oriental spirit and the influences of living in a western environment.

Installation artist Pamela So takes you on a journey in a lighted pathway through Trocadero showing a series of images and a light installation of a pig. Tony Chung's block paintings and calligraphy will focus on his memories of living in the New Territories and Chinese New Year.

Xing Zhang's light installation is a passport size image that is symbolic of Britain, China and globalisation. Further along the passage way Louise Hagger's series of 12 small photographic prints examines themes of preservation, memory, fragility and vulnerability through the use of photography.

In contrast Chang Duo Guo creates a series of colourful illustrative artworks to wish people luck, wealth and prosperity in the New Year.

Liyun Wang, HND Fine Art student at Thames Valley University, Faculty of the Arts
University, has incorporated eastern and western styles that are a cross-over of eastern and western imagery. Her work is displayed near the Piccadilly Station entrance.

Thames Valley University, Faculty of Arts PHD research student, Digital artist Lijia presents a selection of 2D work from her research series ‘Relating Tradition to Innovation within the Chinese Arts’. Her style combines traditional chinese styles styles and digital techniques.

Fung Kuen Ho, BA (Hons) Photography and Digital Imaging graduate from Thames Valley University, now based in Hong Kong will show a series of Photographic prints.

PRIVATE VIEW INVITATION
Sunday 18 February Private View Launch 4pm to 6.30pm

Ying Mei Duan from Germany will give a series of Live Arts Performances in the Trocadero from 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm

Other Events: Traditional Chinese Lion Dance, Cantonese Opera by the China Town Community Association and Music by TVU, London College of Music students.

Saturday Free Events
24 February 3.30pm to 5.00pm
Saturday 10 March 3.30pm to 5.00pm
Trocadero Artists and Curator Tours

Are you interested in finding out more about Inside Out?
Who are the artists and what are the ideas behind the work?
You can join us for an informal gathering and meet the curator and artists.

Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Thames Valley University staff will be available to discuss their Art and Design courses at the Faculty of the Arts in Ealing and Reading.

More details can be found here (1.1MB, Adobe Acrobat PDF)

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NOTES TO EDITOR

Valerie Chang, based in West London is curator for TVU. She has achieved a track record at South London Gallery, Pitshanger Manor Gallery London and recently curated shows were at Campbells Art Gallery, London, Clarion Contemporary Art, London and Riverside Studios.  Contact : Tel: 07941214833 www.valeriechang.com.

Curator and Artists are available for Interviews and this can be arranged by appointment.

THAMES VALLEY UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS AND FUTURE AMBITION

Trocadero is an exciting and challenging venue to show art work. The space provides visual artists with the opportunity to work outside of the safety of the traditional white cube and make artistic interventions in a vibrant, contemporary commercial context. The exhibition aims to create a unique cultural hub of creative activity exposing a broad audience to current artistic practice in a new and exciting setting.

Inside Out will transform part of the basement level of Trocadero into a colourful and dynamic visual space and is the first of a series of collaborative shows organised by Thames Valley University (TVU) and the Trocadero.

This new partnership aims to take art out of the gallery and to bring a broad range of contemporary visual practices to the heart of the business sector in central London. 

Chris O’Neil, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Thames Valley University, Faculty of the Arts

"Thames Valley University has long been involved in the arts and communities so it is pleased to be involved with the Greater London Authority's season of celebrating China in London.

Working in partnership with the Trocadero and ACCOR, the Inside Out exhibition is a showcase of the quality and range of not just international artists, but our own superb students.

We at TVU Welcome the Year of the Pig and wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year."

For further information: Tel 0118 967 5087 www.tvu.ac.uk/exhibitions, www.troc.co.uk

SPONSORS

Thames Valley University (TVU) would like to thank the following sponsors; Trocadero and Accor for their generous support and financial contribution. We are also grateful to David Lammy, Minister of Culture and for sending a personal message letter of support and encouragement.

TROCADERO
The Trocadero is pleased to be host for Inside out exhibition celebrating the Year of the Pig. The Trocadero Centre is London’s leading shopping, leisure and entertainment centre with many famous Names including, Planet Hollywood, Rain Forest Café and Funland to name but a few. For more information visit www.troc.co.uk

Trocadero, Piccadilly, London W1D 7DH

ACCOR
“Accor is pleased to sponsor this exciting contemporary exhibition to welcome the Chinese New Year, Year of the Pig at Trocadero.

With more than 4,000 hotels in 92 countries Accor is one of the leading hotel groups in the world. We offer hotel brands to suit every taste and budget, from limited service economy to 5 star luxury. Ibis is Europe's leading budget hotel brand with more than 720 hotels worldwide and 50 hotels in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Ibis hotels pride themselves on the complete hotel service they provide for their guests: every hotel has a 24 hour reception operated by a friendly team of staff, an on site restaurant and 24 hour hot snack service. Ibis offer their guests a consistent and guaranteed quality of hotel service at competitive prices. Ibis hotels are real hotels at budget prices.

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT

David Lammy, Minister of Culture

“We have a diverse and vibrant culture in this country and I am keen that members from every part of our community get the opportunity to be involved in the arts in whatever form they choose.  This exhibition of new artistic work provides a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of Chinese art and culture in the country and share some of its richness.

The Chinese New Year is a magical time for everyone, where people can enjoy the full range of Chinese culture and join in the festivities. It is fantastic to see the traditional celebrations being complemented by a contemporary exhibition.

I send my best wishes for a successful exhibition”.