Ten top artists from 6 countries - Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippine, Vietnam, shall make their appearance at “Soka Contemporary Space”. As the very first gallery exhibition, “Soka’s View - Southeast Asian Contemporary Art Exhibition” deserve the best expectation! In art-exclusive Mainland China, Soka’s alternative action will definitely provide whole different new view! Curated by distinctive musician and collector Yao Chien, this exhibition will hold in Beijing Soka Contemporary Space from April 5th to 29th and August in Taipei Soka Contemporary Space.

My career is mainly related to Chinese Pop music world, half on management, half text composition. My interest lies in fine art, half on collection, half reading of art. Pop Music has been gone far beyond international borders, with musical exchange among different genres, thus gradually produced a prosperous music layout. Same has been happening to World Art—beyond self-awareness with internal art creativity, the stronger the nation is, the more tolerant it is with arts genre from outside territory. As quoted from a comment:”while inbreeding becomes threaten; it is time to go out the door”. Besides the advantage of development of Chinese Pop music, something is out there to worry about-- high commercialization inevitably brings high profits with narrowlization of insider’s work.

My interest with Southeast Art starts almost simultaneously with attention to Chinese music composition in 1997. Along over a business trip to Singapore, I was totally shocked by the amazing differences those artists brought in an international auction exhibition. Similar to us is their forever proceeding; however resulting from variables in life, culture, and time, we share different creations. Southeast could be solely a profile, yet there has been another language, culture, life, religion, history, value, and style of art.

Within my shallow experience, instead of attempting to picture the panorama on Southeast Art, base on my view and story I personally share with my pleasure, my sensation of all devoting and loving artists to honor their pursuit of the highly humane beauty, of the deep-rooted aspire. Revealed from every single amazing work, I sensed the Southeastern tropical passion, beating heart, strong feelings that gone through overwhelming time and space.

During this curating process, many people deserve special thanks that this opportunity to turn from a collector to an actual planner could happen. It is my fortune to be rewarded both spiritually and professionally.

Yao Qian

Beijing Lantern Festival