Chim ↑Pom, a group of six young artists (1 female, and 5 males), who have baited controversy throughout their careers, once wrote the letters "Pika!" (Flash!) with a jet in the sky over the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima which disturbed citizen of Hiroshima. More recently, they stuck a painting depicting the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to a mural in Tokyo's Shibuya Station, painted by the famed artist Taro Okamoto. It had also raised a huge discussion in Twitter.

The first foreign solo show of Chim ↑Pom will be held in Project Fulfill Art Space, curated by Huang Chien-Hung, co-organized with Mujin-to Production (Tokyo) from March 3rd to April 15th. “Beautiful World: SURVIVAL DANCE” will include an exhibition in Project Fulfill Art Space and site-specific productions. Five members of Chim ↑Pom will come to Taipei for the site-specific productions from February, and it will also be shown in the gallery space from March 3rd.

Taiwan, a place that Europeans once named, “Formosa (beautiful island),” sits over a fault line like Japan and faces the constant threat of earthquakes.  Additionally, due to heavy commercialism, a widening gap between rich and poor remains difficult to close.  On top of all this, pollution taints natural environments and numerous nuclear power plants remain in operation.  Whether in the land or people, “beauty” seems almost paradoxical and difficult to accept.  Under these environmental conditions, life will always be inseparable from the “taste for survival.”  On another note, the complex historical relationship between Taiwan and Japan evolved into one of close and friendly interaction after the 311 Fukushima nuclear disaster.  This marked the emergence of a new look for the twenty-first century, as well as the possibility for the construction of a new relationship - a connection between artistic societies that transcends national boundaries.  A “return to being an armature” is not only an action that involves this notion of a taste for survival.  An armature must rise against and challenge a world filled with inequality, poverty, and twisted moral values created by an elitist social structure.  Additionally, it is an important moment for changing the focus of art, and finding methods in which amateurish characteristics are able to breathe renewed vitality and energy into the regularized field of art.

The exhibition (includes sculptures, video works, and photos) will focus on how Chim↑Pom launches a new artistic position that is set between disaster and animal life.  Additionally, possible directions for site-specific survey works include the following: 1.The connection of art societies that transcend national boundaries; 2.The use of a critical sense of joy to conduct efforts for a beautiful world; 3. Turning points in and the rewriting of history.  Through the creative efforts of Chim↑Pom, the connection between art communities, and cooperative relationships in the planning process, an artistic action that is open and malleable is created through a joint effort. 

Without a doubt, Chim↑Pom not only sticks closely to characteristics of realistic contexts in the thought and innovation behind the direction of this work, they also invoke an imagination that transcends the existing speculative framework.  As a result, this exhibition focuses on actively tackling social issues.  Developed in the face of adversity and drawing upon the current situation experienced by viewers, the works of Chim↑Pom confront all of this with a positive and happy outlook, publicly displaying a response to current issues.

About Chim↑Pom:

Chim↑Pom was founded in Tokyo in 2005.  Its members include Ryuta Ushiro, Yasutaka Hayashi, Masataka Okada, Toshinori Mizuno, and Motomu Inaoka.  The group’s creative direction is extremely broad, tackling issues that deal with life, death, poverty, inequality, coexistence, peace, violence, street culture, and more.

The ideals behind the group’s artistic works are inspired by society itself, and continuously attempt to transcend the current manipulation of art.  Through dialogue, their artistic achievements have also inevitably become a part of society.  Almost all of their exhibitions are expressed though the execution of a plan and are not limited to the creation and exhibition of physical artworks.

During the six short years since their founding, they were invited by MORI ART MUSEUM to take part in its annual Japanese contemporary art exhibition hosted at Roppongi Crossing in 2010.  In that same year, they were awarded the Asia Art Award by Korea’s SOMA Museum, and invited to the 29th Sao Paulo Biennale 2010 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  With these accomplishments, they have been gradually attracting attention across an international scale. One of the latest works “KI-AI 100” is now showing in MoMA PS1.