Field Trip Project Asia is a traveling art exhibition and adjunct activities erected in 2014 that intervenes with issues particular at destinations both affected and unaffected areas by natural disasters in recent years. The works of art in the project, transformed into by over a hundred international artists linked to Asian countries, are Randoseru, Japanese elementary school backpacks originally sent as relief supplies for the Great East Japan Earthquake of March, 2011. Each Randoseru, as a metaphor of learning and growing filled with childhood memories, is a solo exhibit (Space) that is mobile and interacts with local community at each destination (Places), creating multiple layers of new meanings (Cultural Productions).
The project has traveled to Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hongkong, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Taiwan, acivities customely contextualized to meet distictive interests of local communities by co-curators. Perhaps the attitude towards natural disasters is different at each nation. However I believe that there is something we can share and talk about. The ultimate purpose of this project is to create awareness and provoke dialogue about various aspects of natural disasters, environments and beyond, and how they could be used to connect people and create communities through compassion and art. Social media and the fast world of digital communication are making the world a smaller place where what happens thousands of miles away affects us all in different ways, and I believe it is crucial yet challenging to foster these physical engagements.
Field Trip Project Asia website
Past co-curators and destinations
Japan Preview in 2014: with Tetsui Watanabe: Shinjuku Creators' Festa 2014
Singapore in 2014: with Twardzik Ching Chor Leng: National Institute of Education (NIE) Art Gallery
The Philippines in 2015: with Dr. Laya Boquiren: University of the Philippines (UP) Vargas Museum (Metro Manila), Cabunan Elementary School (Tacloban, Layte), UP Baguio and Cafe Yagam (Baguio)
Indonesia in 2016 and 2017: with Leonhard Bartolomeus & (coordinated by) Ayu Oomelo: RURU Gallery at Ruangrupa at Gudang Sarinah Ekosistem / Edwin’s Gallery (Jakarta)
Indonesia in 2017: with Pratitou Arafat: Aceh Tsunami Museum (Banda Aceh)
Hong Kong in 2017: with Movana Chen: "Temperature of Communication" at Oil Street Art Space
Malaysia in 2017 and 2018: with Tan Hui Koon & Zikri Rahman & Amir Amin: "The Inaugural KL Biennale" at the National Art Gallery of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Thailand in 2019: with Tentacles: Bangkok Arts and Culture Center (BACC, Bangkok)
Myanmar in 2019：with Aung Myat Htay: The Japan Foundation, Yangon (Yangon)
Taiwan in 2020: with Bamboo Curtain Studio: National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, and local schools
Artists since Japan Preview in 2014:
Irwan Ahmett (Indonesia), Tita Salina (Indonesia), Nicola Anthony (Singapore), Vincent Twardzik Ching (Singapore), Stellah Lim Chii Cze (Singapore), Adeleine Daysor (Singapore), Daniela Beltrani (Singapore / Italy), Yoi Kawakubo (England / Japan), Urich Lau (Singapore), Justin Lee (Singapore), Twardzik Ching Chor Leng (Singapore), Paribartana Mohanty (India), Ezzam Rahman (Singapore), Yoshihiro Yamamoto (Japan), Andy Yang (Singapore), Daisuke Takeya (Canada / Japan)
Artists since Singapore in 2014:
Ahmad Abu Bakar (Singapore), Candy Tong (Singapore), Dagrún Aðalsteinsdóttir (Iceland / Singapore), David Chan (Singapore), Dominique Baron-Bonarjee (England / France / Japan / India), Erzan Adam (Singapore), Hannah Quinlivan (Australia), Hokuto Narikiyo (Japan), Jing X. Hu (Singapore), Joshua Yang (Singapore), Cray Chen (Singapore), Marienne Yang (Singapore), Michael Loke (Singapore), Paul Lincoln (Singapore), Riko (Singapore), Ryf Zaini (Singapore), Sam Stocker (England/ Japan), Simon Ng (Singapore), Sophia Natasha Wei (Singapore), Sunar Sugiyou (Singapore), Susanna Hertrich (Germany)
Artists since the Philippines in 2015:
Anjo Bolarda (Philippines), Aze Ong (Philippines), Jason Domling (Philippines), Jhoan Tioan Medrano (Philippines), Mark Salvatus (Philippines), Mervy C. Pueblo (Philippines), Noell EL Farol (Philippines), Paul Albert R. Quiaño (Philippines)
Artists since Indonesia in 2016:
Sarita Ibnoe (Indonesia), Anggun Priambodo (Indonesia), Irene Saputra@Nengiren (Indonesia), UBE (Indonesia), Pasangan Baru (Indonesia), RURU Kids and Gelar Agryano Soemantr (Indonesia), Wangsit Firmantika (Indonesia), Natasha Gabriella Tontey (Indonesia), Angela Chong (Singapore), Nadia Oh Sueh Peng (Singapore)
Artists since Hong Kong in 2017:
Movana Chen (Hong Kong), Kung Heung (Hong Kong), Sara Tse (Hong Kong), Kunni Kraus (Australia)
Artists since Malaysia in 2017:
Azmyl Yunor (Malaysia), Hasnoor Hussain (Malaysia), Eats, Shoots & Roots (Malaysia), Jeffrey Lim (Malaysia), Popek-Popek (Malaysia), Xeem Noor (Malaysia), KL SKETCH NATION | Hakym Ahmad (Malaysia), Kamal Sallehuddin (Malaysia), Fatin Roslin (Malaysia), Buku Jalanan (Malaysia)
Artists since Thailand in 2019:
Yingyod Yenarkarn (Thailand), Eakchayong Pornkajornkijkul (Thailand), Wilawan Wiangthong (Thailand), Sareena Sattapon (Thailand), Lee Anantawat (Thailand), Ruangsak Anuwatwimon (Thailand), Chumpon Apisuk (Thailand), Chulayarnnon Siriphol (Thailand), Jittima Pholsawek (Thailand)
Artists since Myanmar in 2019:
Thynn Lei Nwe (Myanmar), Khin Thethtar Latt@Nora (Myanmar), Zun Ei Phyu (Myanmar), Kokaung Myatthu (Myanmar), Thet Swe Linn (Myanmar), Moe Myat + Ito (Matter Collective) (Myanmar), Alma Quinto (Philippines)
Artists since Taiwan in 2020:
Wei-Lun, Chang (Taiwan, ART PETRI DISH), Juwon, Park (Korea, ART PETRI DISH), Fay, Yang (Taiwan, NO!W Across Lab), Tzu-Fen Lin (Taiwan, NO!W Across Lab), Yi-Pei, Lee (Taiwan), Hsin-Yen, Wei (Taiwan)
Field Trip Asia design and typeface by: Ilham Kholid (@kholidski)
Field Trip Project Asia participating artists in 2014
Walk tour led by Dr. Laya Boquiren in the city of Baguio, the Philippines, 2015, made possible by the Japan Foundation, Manila Local Grant
Wet-wet Gampong Punge Blang Cut, walking tour led by Idrus Bin Harun in Banda Aceh, Indonesia in 2016 made possible by the Japan Foundation, Jakarta Local Grant. Photo by Rizqan Kamil
Exhibition opening at the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center (BACC), Thailand, 2019, made possible by the Japan Foundation, Bangkok Local Grant
Installation view, the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center (BACC), Thailand, 2019, made possible by the Japan Foundation, Bangkok Local Grant
Installation view, UP Vargas Museum, Metro Manila, the Philippines, 2015, made possible by the Japan Foundation, Manila Local Grant
Field Trip Project Asia meetings with participating artists lead by Aung Myat Htay, Myanmar, 2019, the Japan Foundation, Yangon
Installation view, the Japan Foundation, Yangon, 2019
Art bag making workshop led by Wangsit Firmantika and coordinated by Ayu Oomelo, Edwin's Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2017
Walk tour in Hong Kong's Mongkok, Kowloon, 2017. Photo: Movana Chen
Walk tour in Hong Kong's Mongkok, Kowloon, 2017. Photo: Movana Chen
Walk tour in Hong Kong's Mongkok, Kowloon, 2017. Photo: Movana Chen
Walk tour in Hong Kong's Mongkok, Kowloon, 2017. Photo: Movana Chen
Installation view (Procession performance art by Sophia Natasha Wei), Natioal Institute of Education (NIE) Art Gallery, Singapore, 2014, made possible by the NAC Grant
Procession performance art by Sophia Natasha Wei
Natioal Institute of Education (NIE) Art Gallery, Singapore, 2014, made possible by the NAC Grant
Artist talk at 98B COLLABoratory flyer design
Wet-wet Gampong Punge Blang Cut, walking tour led by Idrus Bin Harun in Banda Aceh, Indonesia in 2016 made possible by the Japan Foundation, Jakarta Local Grant. Photo by Rizqan Kamil
Art workshop by Jason Domling at Cabunan Elementary School coordinated by Dr. Laya Boquiren in Layte island, the Philippines, 2015, made possible by the Japan Foundation, Manila Local Grant
Curator tour at Aceh Tsunami Museum. Banda Aceh, Indonesia, 2016, made possible by the Japan Foundation, Jakarta Local Grant
Special presentation at Shinjuku Creators Festa 2014, with Noboru Tsubaki, Shinjuku Mayor, Emiko Kato, Vincent Twardzik Ching and Twardzik Ching Chor Leng, coordinated by Tetsui Watanabe
Special demonstration by Vincent Twardzik Ching at Shinjuku Creators Festa 2014, with Shinjuku Mayor, coordinated by Tetsui Watanabe
Artwork by Tita Salina at the UP Vargas Museum, Metro Manila, the Philippines
Artwork by Riko interacted by the visitors at the UP Vargas Museum, Metro Manila, the Philippines