夢幻島 NEVERLAND
周明誼｜陳代如 聯展 Chou Ming-Yi｜Chen Dai-Roo Group Exhibition

展期 Date｜2020 / 08 / 15 Sat. — 2020 / 09 / 20 Sun.
開幕 Opening｜2020 / 08 / 15 Sat. 16pm
地點 Venue｜G.Gallery（臺北市大安區信義路三段147巷15弄14號 B1 B1, No.14, Aly. 15, Ln. 147, Sec. 3, Xinyi Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei City 106, Taiwan）
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G.Gallery 很榮幸將於 2020 年 8 月 15 日至 9 月 20 日推出「夢幻島」聯展，展出周明誼以家貓為主角之最新系列《野性防衛指南》，以及陳代如以兔子為其創作題材之《月兔》與《實驗兔》系列。繽紛絢麗的包裝，看似美麗的外觀，實際上暗示著不堪一擊的脆弱，兩位藝術家試圖透過動物／寵物之表象，揭露一個社會現象，質疑其內蘊之公然的操控與殘忍。

人類有多麽美！啊！美麗的新世界，有這樣的人在裡頭！——莎士比亞・《暴風雨》

「夢幻島」猶如美麗新世界一般的存在著，這裡有著我們從未見過／近乎完美的社會，只是越光明美好的事情，往往伴隨著更無盡的黑暗險惡，而英文名稱「Neverland」似已不經意揭穿這糖衣下的真實與殘酷面向。

現代人類的生理構造除了腦部和靈活的手指之外，完全無法於競爭激烈的大自然中存活下來。為了防衛自身安全，人類必須發展出一套套防身招數，例如：武術、自衛術等活化運用手、腿肢體及增強反應能力之技藝，以協助人類補強缺乏的生理優勢而得以保命。

《野性防衛指南》為一系列描繪當人類遭遇野生大貓攻擊時近身防衛的教學指南，周明誼以自身飼養的家貓為主角，將其轉化成與人等身高或更巨大的野生動物，藉由荒誕的偽防身術教學工具書形式，冀以觀者在會心一笑之餘，仍能思考人類與其他生物之間的競爭拉鋸。如果失去了智力的優勢，人類能否順利繁衍至今日？周明誼以他一慣幽默諧趣的童話奇想，戲而不虐地衝撞體制，宛如一則警示寓言，留給觀眾迴旋的空間。

《月兔》與《實驗兔》系列像是裝有一層層載玻片的標本盒，清晰地檢視微觀世界，若將科學研究抽離，跨越倫理道德的界線，則轉變為病態的宣誓及佔有。陳代如試圖打破傳統平面繪畫的觀看方式，藉有機玻璃四面透光之特性，將攝影與影像的特質融入繪畫當中，在二維平面上巧妙地鋪陳出三維立體空間的向度，同時以擦拭、塗抹、堆疊等方式製造出一種第四度空間的聯想，讓觀者的視線在作品表面不斷挪移而不顯單調。

在文學與神話中「兔子」通常象徵為犧牲奉獻的一方，陳代如藉由神話中月兔的角色作延伸，描述人類對於生命價值的矛盾態度。數以萬計的兔子被送上月亮後，為長生不老藥的研發而被當作實驗對象，縱使想回到地面，唯一的辦法，是從月上一躍而下。

在「物競天擇、適者生存」的演化下，人類成為了地球上強勢的主宰者，為了爭取生存空間、滿足己利，對其他物種進行大規模的掠奪。自詡為萬物之靈、高高在上的人類，人性與獸性有時只是一線之隔。天馬行空的故事背後，探討的是人類生存環境與對自身行為的反思，「夢幻島（Neverland）」一詞似乎只是對於現代社會現象的一種諷刺與挑釁。

G.Gallery is pleased to present the group exhibition ‘NEVERLAND’, featuring two Taiwanese contemporary artist Chou Ming-Yi and Chen Dai-Roo, from 15th August to 20th September. Both artists through their creative practices and conceptual discourse to reveal the social phenomenon of feeding pets/ the animals, arguing the abuse and tolerance behind the condition, breaking the beautiful surface that we are living with.

“How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in it.”—— William Shakespeare, The Tempest.

‘NEVERLAND’ is an existence with beautiful images. In it maintaining the society which is ideal, uncovered, and perfect. Though, the bright side followed by the endless darkness and evil illusions. The word ‘NEVERLAND ’seems to depict the true side of this concept- it has never happened.

Humans nowadays might be not surviving in the highly competitive wild nature, with only the intelligence and agile fingers by physiological structure. To prevent dangers, humans need to develop a series of self-defense tactics. for instance, the martial arts and self-protection. These techniques activate the use of hands, legs, and limbs, enhancing the ability to respond, help themselves to reinforce their lack in physic, and save lives.

‘Self-Protection Guidebook For Human Beings’ is a collection describing how could human protect themselves while facing the attacks by the giant cats with the format of the guiding book. Chou makes his pet cat be the main character in the collection, transforming it into a wild creature that is the same height or higher than humans. With the pseudo-reference guide book layout. With the pseudo-reference book format, he hopes that viewers can still think about the competition between humans and other creatures after the laughter. If human beings lose the advantage of intelligence, can we still survive to this day? Chou uses his signature playful, humorous, and uncanny style works against the system. He seems left a warning to the viewers, to rethink it on and on.

‘Moon Rabbits’ and ‘Laboratory Rabbits’ collections are the model boxes with slide glass looks is containing the layers of glasses, revealing the micro world. It would be a sick declaring and occupation if we alienate the science away, and blur the boundary of the morality. She tries to break the cognition of viewing of traditional paintings. With the transparency of glass, she brings photography into the paintings, creating the 3-dimensional world in a 2-dimensional way. By wiping, smearing, and repetitive leaving the hatchings mixed, connection to the concept of fourth dimensional. She offers the viewers changing the side of seeing, which are given alive.

In the literature and myth, the rabbit is usually seen as a sacrificed character, Chen inspired by the jade rabbit from the myth to depict the conflicted attitude of the essence of living. Millions of rabbit are sent to the moon to be the objects of an experiment, which is researching and developing the drugs of living immortally. If they want to go back to the earth, the only action that they could take is dumping down from the moon.

Nature selects, the fittest survive. In evolution, human has become the most powerful creatures. We are killing a thousand kinds of other animals because of greed and residence. We overbearingly see ourselves as the paragon of animals, but only with a slightly different by other animals. After the creative imaginations, humans should reflect on their behaviors to the environment. The word 'NEVERLAND' is an irony and irritating in modern society.