The first international exhibition in UCCA’s program, Stray Alchemists introduces artists who are starting to influence the current contemporary art landscape, including Matt Bryans, Amy Granat, Takeshi Murata, Robin Rhode, Sterling Ruby and Lim Tzay Chuen. Working across sculpture, performance, collage, drawing, photography and video, each artist is focused on process to extend the possibilities of their practice.

Stray Alchemists will include new work produced specifically for the exhibition, as well as one-off performances and music events by the participating artists.

An illustrated catalogue will accompany the show.

Date: April 12, 2008 – June 29, 2008

Venue: UCCA White Cube, Black Box, Middle Room and the nave

Curators: Kate Fowle, UCCA International Curator

Stray Alchemists

The first international exhibition in UCCA’s program, Stray Alchemists introduces artists who are starting to influence the current contemporary art landscape, including Matt Bryans, Amy Granat, Takeshi Murata, Robin Rhode, Sterling Ruby and Lim Tzay Chuen. Working across sculpture, performance, collage, drawing, photography and video, each artist is focused on process to extend the possibilities of their practice.Stray Alchemists will include new work produced specifically for the exhibition, as well as one-off performances and music events by the participating artists.

An illustrated catalogue will accompany the show.

Sterling Ruby examines the flimsy transience of power in his installation Recondite. Captured here is a video showing Ruby as he constructs the artwork in the Nave at UCCA.

One man, 27,000 meters of aluminum foil …

As part of his special commission for the Stray Alchemists exhibition, Matt Bryans walked the floor of the UCCA nave for eight days, logging 27 kilometers to create a massive ball of aluminum foil. Above is an installation video capturing the event, as well as commentary from Bryans about the creation of this work.

UCCA and Lim Tzay Chuen

UCCA welcomes long-term guests: 100 spiders were released at UCCA on April 4th as part of Singaporean artist Lim Tzay Chuen’s challenge to UCCA’s commitment to supporting artists. These harmless, eight-legged friends roam throughout UCCA as part of Lim’s “100 spiders and 1 sticker” site commission for the Stray Alchemists exhibition.

Stray Alchemists related programs

Stray Alchemists Unplugged

Music, videos, performances and tours, all-access non-stop events

Saturday 12 April, afternoon until late

* Free after admission

- Hang out with the artists

- Meet the curator

- Artist’s playlist

- One-off performances

- Drinks launch and party

Go behind the scenes of UCCA’s first ever international group show Stray Alchemists as

International Curator Kate Fowle reveals the stories of these diverse works and discusses the

practices of each of these exciting artists.

Work progress documentation:Spiders being collected for their release at UCCA Title: Because, therefore

100Spiders & 1 sticker on the wall

Year: 2008

Medium: Organisms with four pairs of legs and a two-part body

Dimension: Various

Set loose 100 (lycosa sinensis) spiders to inhabit the UCCA Center Work progress documentation:

Testing the surveying instrument for the positioning of the sticker

Title:Because, therefore 100 Spiders & 1 sticker on the wall

Year: 2008

Medium: Adhesive paper and electronic surveying instrument

Dimension: Various

To place one sticker permanently onto an interior structure of the UCCA Center.

All rights reserved, 2008 Lim Tzay Chuen.

BECAUSE, THEREFORE

100 Spiders and one sticker on the wall

Contractual agreement between Lim Tzay Chuen, “the Artist” and UCCA “the Center”

SPIDER PROJECT:

I. The Center will inform its employees and external contractors to take precautionary measures that will prevent any harm to the spiders during the exhibition.

II. The Center will not put the released spiders in confinement or relocate the spiders from the premises.

III. The Artist, in consultation with a spider specialist, has assured that the spiders for the exhibition are non venomous and will not cause direct physical harm to the public.

IV. The Artist will not be held responsible for any physical or psychological injury caused by the sight or physical contact of the spiders.

V. Prior to the release of the spiders, the artist will invite an expert in entomology to conduct a lecture for the Center’s employees, with the aim of providing some general knowledge of spiders and addressing concerns about their use in the art work. The Center will facilitate the lecture and encourage its employees to attend it.

STICKER PROJECT:

I. The Center will assign an employee to undergo training to operate the surveying instrument for the positioning of the sticker on the wall.

II. If/when the sticker becomes damaged or defaced, The Center will replace the missing sticker to its exact specified position, using the equipment provided, within one working day.

III. In principle the Center agrees to commit to the sticker project for five years, starting from the opening date of the exhibition. The Centre and the artist can terminate its commitment to the project by providing three months advance notice in writing.

IV. The artist guarantees to supply the center with replacement stickers for the duration of five years.

V. If relevant, any agreement to extend the sticker project will be negotiated between the Artist and the Center every five years.

VI. As part of the project the Center will keep a record of the time and date and the name of the operator replacing the sticker, and will hand over the original records to the artist at the end of the project.

VII. The Centre will return the unused stickers and it instrument to the artist after the completion of the project.