At the invitation of Gwangju Biennale Foundation, Taiwan Contemporary Cultural Lab (C-LAB) together with the National Human Rights Museum (NHRM) and Taipei Performing Arts Center (TPAC) explore through art the democratic developments and pursuit of human rights, freedom and universal values in Taiwan and South Korea.

Themed Double Echoing, the exhibition examines the contemporary histories of Taiwan and South Korea, two Asian democracies bearing twin-like resemblance. Through the ages, the two countries both experienced war, colonization, separation and repressive rule, before taking similar paths to democracy after World War II and the Korean War. Fourteen Taiwanese and Korean artists in 8 groups dedicated to human rights, political art and other universal issues will share the stage at Gwangju’s Asia Culture Center from February 24 to May, 2021. Another highlight of the show is the onsite display of pieces from the Green Island Human Rights Art Festival, a joint commission with the NHRM.

Through the multiple echoing of “body/sound” in space and time, Double Echoing is an attempt to create a multi-level immersive experience for the body, looking into similar happenings across contemporary Asia, particularly in South Korea and Taiwan. With their unique perspectives, participating artists take us to reinterpret and redefine the boundaries between body politics and collective consciousness. In addition to physical mirroring, " Double Echoing " has the referential meaning of multiple reflections of sound waves, and it also extends to the multi-level reflective thinking of humans on many historical events. Just like the sound wave/consciousness reverberation, it has been lingering in our bodies and minds, lingering. While some artists decide, by revisiting history, to decolonize the past and shed light on how the state apparatus imposed social constraints on the public, others compose songs to speak the minds of the people. Every revisit echoes with the mind. As we stand on the fringe of time knee-deep in a struggle forward, we open up conscious space for thought.

After the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, we hope to make peace with the past by the power of art. Once again, let’s be brave and celebrate freedom.