GROUP EXHIBITION

Over the past few years, traditional markets in East Asian societies have been a recurring site in Chao's research on ritualistic curatorial practices. These markets, often ending in 'machi' or 'machi-dori' (meaning 'shopping street'), are ubiquitous in Japanese cities. The concept of the group exhibition Righteous Market is inspired by the 2014 South Korean film 'Ode to My Father' directed by Yoon Je-kyoon. The exhibition borrows the common form of traditional Japanese market with arcades, transforming this concentrated field of historical and contemporary consciousness into a stage for practicing truth.  

In the market, one can see former vessels of faith in the form of temples now transformed into rental properties; second-hand home appliances reflecting the glory and overcapacity of the East Asian electronics industry boom in the 1990s; citizens who grew up around the market – such as the head priest of a Kansai temple – and whose their worldview was gradually formed through their experiences there; urban festivals (Matsuri) centered around 'town', 'home', and 'generations' (sedai), embodying the concepts of 'competition', 'play' and 'resilience'. These festivals have a strong historical elasticity and represent a circular economy that is no longer subject to the critique of neoliberal economics.

In the traditional market, the 'observation', 'insight', 'cognition' and 'decoding' of various truths are forms of consciousness training that Chao has long relied on. This cognitive space involves the concepts of 'correctness,' 'fairness,' and 'benevolence' encompassed by 'Righteousness.' Here, Chao employs the moral emphasis of Kantianism to frame the exhibition, emphasising that motive confers moral worth on an action. Righteousness is often associated with religion. Essentially, ceremonies are often closely linked to religion, and in theological concepts, 'Righteousness' is summarised as a quality or state that is morally correct and reasonable. It not only responds to the principles or laws of the world –'Dao' (word), but it is also the Logos used to achieve a fair reciprocation within the duality of truth. The interpretation of the righteous efforts echoed by different shop installations is influenced by factors such as 'correctness,' 'justice,' 'kindness,' and 'the moral responsibility of taking initiative.'

 Amidst the myths surrounding 'civilisation' conflicts today, we invite artists to respond to this issue: Do we believe that governments can correct the unfairness caused by nature? Is the only way to correct injustice being to artificially create equality? Or are there other powerful forces at play in our daily lives, masquerading as institutions and bypassing obvious historical cycles? In any case, the writing of justice awaits an update, starting from this Righteous Market here.