Yuan Goang-Ming’s exhibition, ‘Everyday War,’ currently on display at the Asian Art Museum, captivates and unsettles visitors through a blend of sculpture and video.
The installation features a dinner table centerpiece, titled Prophecy, adorned with elegant white porcelain dishes and glimmering silverware.
Yet its serene appearance is disrupted by a jarring, loud ‘BANG!’ that echoes throughout the gallery, startling onlookers and adding to the exhibition’s tense atmosphere.
Curated by Abby Chen, this exhibition marks Yuan’s first North American solo show, having originally been presented by Taiwan at the prestigious 2024 Venice Biennale.
While the Venice display took place in a historic military fort, the reimagined installation at the Asian Art Museum amplifies the sense of disarray, transforming the viewing experience into one laden with an ominous sense of paranoia.
The exhibition comprises six video works created by Yuan from 2011 to 2024, alongside a small graphite drawing.
As one navigates through the gallery, the soundscape is dominated by low-frequency synth pads intermingled with the grating sounds of gunfire, explosions, and sirens, all contributing to a general feeling of chaos.
The exhibition’s titular video, created in 2024, presents a haunting domestic space where destruction unfolds in real-time.
Featuring a full-scale set of a small apartment inside Yuan’s home, viewers watch as parts of the room ignite or are riddled with bullets, all while a crane shot smoothly pans over the scene.
At one point, the camera transports viewers underwater, momentarily offering a glimpse into tranquility before chaos strikes—the fish tank on the bookshelf shatters under fire.
The unsettling auditory backdrop consists of live-streamed gaming noise, juxtaposing the devastation of the apartment with the carefree nature of gaming, where such violence becomes mere entertainment.
In another impactful piece, Everyday Maneuver (2018), a drone camera surveys the desolate streets of Taipei during the annual Wanan Air Raid Drill.
This drill, a tradition since 1978, trains civilians on how to respond to potential military assault from mainland China, reflecting a stark and unnerving reality.
The unsettling imagery of empty streets and flickering digital ads evokes feelings of anxiety prevalent in surveillance states, where the pervasive nature of drone warfare looms large.
Taiwan’s political position is precarious, caught between a longstanding claim from China and its self-governing democracy.
Recent threats from Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding potential military reunification amplify tensions and force Taiwan into a constant state of vigilance.
The United States maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity surrounding Taiwan, often approving significant military support for the island while navigating complex relationships in the region.
The situation mirrors global instances of violence, such as the recent Israeli bombardments of Gaza, reflecting how conflict extends beyond geographic boundaries.
Yuan’s exhibition illustrates the pervasive nature of violence woven into the fabric of daily life, emphasizing that one need not be under direct threat to feel the chilling presence of war.
As spectators witness these intense explorations of domestic spaces marred by violence, it evokes feelings of anxiety that resonate well beyond the physical confines of the gallery.
The earliest work featured in the exhibition, Disappearing Landscape – Passing II (2011), showcases a fly-through of a peaceful home, ultimately revealing dark waters lurking under the urban landscape.
This stark contrast speaks to the subconscious awareness of violence that permeates everyday life—it is a reminder that society exists under the shadow of potential conflict.
‘Everyday War’ invites viewers to reflect on their own understanding of violence and survival in a world rife with tension.
The exhibition is currently on view at the Asian Art Museum, located at 200 Larkin St., San Francisco, running through August 4, 2025.
image source from：https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977434/everyday-war-asian-art-museum-yuan-goang-ming-review
