Interview: Ya-Wen Fu

After her performance “The body in which I feel at home.” presented in Venice, during MORPHOS Festival (June 06, 2014), Luca Curci meets Ya-Wen Fu.

Born in Yunlin, Taiwan in 1980, she studies Meisterschueler of media arts HGB. She holds Diplom and bachelor’s degree of Media Arts, HGB Academy of Visual Arts in Leipzig, Germany. She graduated from National Tainan Girls’ Senior High School in 1999 and obtained a bachelor’s degree of fine arts from National Taiwan University of Arts in 2003. From 2005 to 2006, she worked as software designer of private art school Von Erlenbach Kunstschule, Berlin and worked at Titanic Magazine in Berlin as an animator in 2007. Her artworks have been exhibited in Berlin, Leipzig, Wiesbaden during 2009 to 2012. Since 2011, Ya-Wen join tamtamART art association as director and has many year curatorial experiences. She currently lives and works in Berlin and Leipzig.

Luca Curci – Your work has just been exhibited during MORPHOS – Sustainable Empires in Venice: can you talk about your personal experience in Venice with International ArtExpo?

Ya-Wen Fu – The piece shown in Venice contains two opposite aspects. In the video I improvise a real situation through my body-expression. I show the perceptions of a person in relation to movement and to recognition of (her/his) limits. In order to illustrate and make this real situation visible, I use a sculpture in my perfomance that stands figuratively for a corset. The sculture is made of 80 metal rings and 80 tension springs. My physical movement adds pressure on the metal rings and the tension on my body grows. In the process, a communication between the body and the sculpture is developed, which leads to an interaction between tension and release.
Sometimes the differences between different cultures stick together for me in a complete contrast, but there are also points of connection. I observe myself often how I act in a situation and how I communicate with others, and the way of thinking that influenced me.

L. C. – What are you currently working on?

Y.W. F. – I work with different materials, installation and media. I am looking for the connections between the self and how the self is observed in society, for develop from this perception abstract ideas. My interest also lies in how the body in different situations is viewed and presented, and how movements and behavior of culture and society are affected.

L. C. – What is art for you?

Y.W. F. – For me art transforms not only information, but also provides several ways to edit the communication.

L. C. – What do you think about International ArtExpo organization?

Y.W. F. – It is not just a possibility for an artist to present her/his work. It is also an opportunity for the viewers to see the artistic process, and how artists deal with identity and culture.

L. C. – Do you think International ArtExpo organization can represent an opportunity for artists?

Y.W. F. – Maybe…