The National Gallery of Victoria and Latrobe Regional Gallery are proud to present Writing in the rain: contemporary Asian video art from the NGV.

Writing in the rain features nine works from the NGV Collection, exploring the past decade of contemporary Asian video art. Featuring works by artists from Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, China, and Indonesia, Writing in the rain explores the cultural underpinnings specific to each artist.

This exhibition showcases a recent focus area of NGV collecting; strengthening the holdings of contemporary Asian art in recognition of the vibrancy of artistic practice in the region. The artworks in Writing in the rain reflect the diverse way video as a medium is used. The nine works in Writing in the rain will be displayed on both projectors and screens, with an accompanying sculpture installation.

The works address both past and future concerns, with Go Watanabe’s work Emo responding to artificial intelligence and its potential future impacts on our emotional lives: while FX Harsano combines video with traditional calligraphy to explore the past, and specifically the experience of Chinese immigrants to Indonesia in the 1970s. From dreamlike landscapes by Yang Yongliang to the humour of Wang Gongxin’s The Dinner Table, the works employ the immersive strategies of video to draw viewers into the artists’ world.

The NGV is committed to sharing its collections with the people of Victoria, including through the lending of works to regional galleries. The NGV is pleased to partner with LRG to present these practices to regional audiences, and in the university context which sees students and scholars bringing new perspectives to the NGV Collection.