Johannes Christopher Gerard
From Taipei to Kumasi
Photography




The photographic works show performance projects that relate to political action and activism in public space.
I chose these works because, firstly, I was involved in the creation of the activities and performances. Secondly, to show examples of what the art discipline of performance and social sculpture concepts can achieve as an alternative form of protest to get previously uninvolved people involved. The themes and representations relate to local or regional environmental problems. However, the environmental problems also affect the social environments of the local and regional communities. I was briefly involved in the actions because of my social sculpture and performance activities. That was at pIART in Kumasi, Ghana and 435 in Taipei New City, Taiwan. Both events and projects addressed social issues as well as urban environmental problems. In both cases, the groups used the concepts of social sculpture instead of protest actions and demonstrations in public space.
The work deals with a number of themes related to the relationship between blacks and whites, culture clashes and different views on how we see the world and our relationships with each other. Often burdened by events from the past and history. This sometimes complicates relationships between different cultures and people of different skin colors, but it is about building trust between us and our environment.
Artist Bio
Johannes Christopher Gerard is born in Cologne, Germany 1959.
Works as interdisciplinary and multimedia artist. Currently reside in The Hague, Netherlands, Studied at School of Printmaking and Design , Cologne, Germany from 1975-1987 and at Dun Laogharie School of Art and Design, (IDAT) Dublin, Ireland from 1977-1981.
Until today lived and worked in different countries in Europe, Far East, North and South Americas, West Africa and Australia
Since 1981 regularly participation in exhibitions, projects, video and film festivals including in whole Europe, Near and Middle East, South East Asia, Far East, Australia, Africa, Central America, North and South America.
Until 2007 mainly doing sculpting, painting and printmaking. In the same year created first Land Art and installations objects. 2010-2014 strong focus on photography.
Through the collaboration in 2014 with dancer Tsai Hsin-Ying (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) and performance artist Kao Yi (Tainan, Taiwan)during the "Silent Crossing Border" project at Soulangh Culture Park in Tainan, Taiwan starts conducting first video films and performance pieces. From this project on his work and artistic visions began to focus on interdisciplinary, multi media and collaboration projects.
Since 2014 collaboration projects with artists from different culture backgrounds and disciplines were regularly implemented.