The “strawberry generation,” which refers to people born in the 1970s and 1980s, is a euphemism for the fragile younger generation used by Taiwan media. But now we have to admit that the strawberry generation has increasingly become the spine of society and that their time has come. Unlike older generations, the younger generation grew up in an environment without war, without political persecution, with less poverty and full access to information. This generation feels free to abandon tradition, takes education for granted and enjoys freedom one would inhale air. In addition, all the information they want to have is, literally, at their fingertips.
So, this generation needs not carry the heavy burden shouldered by the older generation. They do not have interest in “bigness,” “greatness,” or “the macro environment.” Instead, they care about shredded pieces of things that only have light significance. They focus little on plainness and have no concern for order. They like possibilities in all forms and passionately pursue a sense of being and resonance in the micro environment.
MOCA Taipei’s cross-year big exhibition s.s.s.s.Super Generation will begin on November 22nd. This exhibition embodies a new generation. “Small” stands for pursuing the spirit of the micro environment instead of the macro environment. “Shredded” represents the focus on trivialities and unshaped life details. “Sparkling” is the fancy and ever-changing sparkles that can become miscellaneous possibilities. “Spaced-out” means a continuous revolutionary attitude.
Cross-discipline artist Yan Zhongxian, the lead organizer of this event, has invited over ten artists living in the s.s.s.s.Super Generation to participate. They are Wang Zhongkun, Cola King, Wu Gengzhen, Lee Kuohong, Lin Daixuan, Yao Zhonghan, Mr. Red, Shiah Shiah, Kwai Lun-Mei, Zhang Jiaying, Hsu Tangwei, Lynch Kuo, Chen Yichieh, Yeh Yili, Ye Junqingm and three group creators Training Loving Room, POETRYNOW, and City Yeast. Participants also include renowned art critics Zheng Huihua and Zhang Qingwen, and famous writer Cheng Yingzhu, who transform their personal experiences and observations of the blog culture into the “Unblogging” idea. This idea, in a more inclusive sense, both extends and satirizes the sub-culture, through which the collective life experience and thinking methods of this generation can be discussed.
This generation believes in no doctrine, no belief, no preaching and no motto. They do not pursue eternity or develop universal values. This exhibition presents what they care about, what they try to recall and the moment their emotions are triggered. For example, keeping a blog is trendy. A blog keeper is the blog owner, where he can indulge in creating according to his own will, revealing personal and instantaneous sensational and emotional experiences. This experience manifests the value of being that is of little impression and identification. Only young people who live in their micro environment can enjoy the slowness and smallness. As the organizer pointed out, “The newer generation must be aggressive to occupy a new field.”
Art is a cultural dynamic mechanism which reflects the times. Art could be aggressively displayed or demonstrated in a slow and controlled manner. s.s.s.s tries to exert strength, in a broad sense, to arouse the awareness of the younger generation. Through tough and soft manifestation, the question of “what is the art for this generation” can be raised and pondered. Please join us now. Let’s experience the confusion and sweetness of the s.s.s.s.Super Generation and visit the art playground that is as noisy as a marketplace.