COPLAY Project
2020-present
COPLAY Project is a collaborative research and exchange project on/with art and culture
collectives across Taiwan and Asia, co-initiated with Sherry Chang.
COPLAY comprises of two parts:
Research interviews: COPLAY's initial phase of work. We raise questions as well as discuss with members of collectives on topics surrounding the idea of "collective" as a spirit, a concept, and a practice. With these interviews, we explore questions such as: What are their visions about collective, collaborative, co-working ways of practice? How do members of different collectives "play around" with different kinds of practices and ideas? What do they see as challenges and opportunities to work collectively? And, how do they picture a future together?
Online Gatherings: also called "COPLAY in Livingrooms", the series of gatherings were both online and offline. In a casual vibes like in one's living room, participants were invited to share and rethink how different meanings of "play" could be carried out through collective energies. The speakers each shared a recent practice of his/her group, and their reflection on the individuality/collectivity envisioned in that practice.
Five "COPLAY in Living Rooms" take place across 4 months. The first four sessions will take place in different physical living rooms of different friends(if the pandemic allows), with a setup of virtual meeting rooms for us to chat with friends overseas. The concluding session will take place at the Living Room of COPLAY project partner Bamboo Curtain Studio
Participating Collectives (expanding) of the Research:
- Taiwan: OCAC-Open Contemporary Art Center, Zit-Dim Art Space, Self learning on Curation, Halfway Coffee, Collectors, instant42, Baguashan Power Art Festival, Lightbox, Give to Gift, Project 307
- Indonesia: Jatiwangi art Factory, Bakudapan Food Study Group, KUNCI Study Forum & Collective, Cut and Rescue, Kota Main, Gudskul, Rurukids
- Thailand: Young Thon, Satarana, Prayoon For Art Network, BIGTrees Project
- Cambodia: Sasa Art Projects
- Korea: BDNG, Rice Brewing Sisters' Club
- Japan: Paradise AIR
All the COPLAY in Living Rooms gatherings:
【Session 1】COPLAY for Art: from ideas to projects and beyond??
Time: Friday, May 28th. 19:00-21:00 (UTC+8)
Topics of Discussion:
How do we perceive individuality and collectivity in collaborative practice?
How to envision the lifecycle of a project and the team?
What's the secret of collective discussion and decision making?
What do we mean by "play" through connecting with each other?
Speakers：
Shitung Lo/ OCAC (Taiwan)
Yi-cheng Sun/Self learning on Curation (Taiwan)
Wayla Amatathammachad/ Prayoon for Arts. Loei Art Fes (Thailand）
Angga Cipta/ Cut and Rescue (Indonesia）
【Session 2】COPLAY for the place: reimagine living together
Time: Thursday, July 22nd. 19:00-21:00 (UTC+8)
Topics of Discussion:
How do we reimagine the idea of "the neighboring" in our time?
Have the boundaries of collective and social space changed?
How to encourage and collect collective imaginations about a place?
Can a crazy, fun idea become a collective action for place making?
What's the secret of connecting and sustaining the dynamics and vibes of individuals, collectives and the space?
Speakers：
Techit Jiro/ SATARANA (Thailand)
Isao Kanemaki& Mei Miyauchi／PARADISE AIR (Japan)
Yu-Jun Ye /instant42,Baguashan Power Art Festival. (Taiwan)
Chen Keting/ Collectors (Taiwan)
【Session 3】COPLAY for Resources：how to create a fertile ground for all?
Time: Friday, Aug. 13th. 2021, 19:00 - 21:00 (UTC+8)
Topics of Discussion:
How to connect and share resources through creating systems?
How to re-create resources while sharing resources?
How to maintain the motivation of members?
How does the resource sharing platform keep absorbing energy?
【Session 4】Learn to COPLAY, COPLAY to learn：how to learn from/with different communities?
Time: Friday, Aug. 27th 2021, 19:00 - 21:00 (UTC+8)
Topics of Discussion:
How can "collective power" be seen / spread / amplified through education?
How to initiate a cross-disciplinary learning project?
How to cultivate creativity and the co-learning spirit?
How to create collective power with other communities?
Speakers：
Noorlintang "Nori" Suminar/ Kotak Main (Indonesia)
Daniella Praptono, Teguh Safariza／RURU Kids (Indonesia)
Dara Kong /Sa Sa Art Projects (Cambodia)
Fay YANG / Give to Gift（Taiwan）
Meng-Hsuan Wu / Project 307 （Taiwan）
【Final session】SHALL WE COPLAY? #winter solstice special edition
Time & Place: Tuesday, Dec. 21th 2021 @The Living Room, Bamboo Curtain Studio
Topics of Discussion:
Who am "I" in a Collective?
Why do "we" (not) get together?
Imagine a non-artist collective: What resources can you give/take?
Rethinking "sustainability."
Participants: Practicing non-artists art professionals