An exhibition questioning the future

When arrival is not just about humans but a negotiation between living beings and borders, "Where Are We Landing" is an exhibition that questions the future of the world through the stories of refugees, horses, coconuts, fish, and tardigrades.

This exhibition borrows the concept of “Landing” from the book Critical Zones: The Science and Politics of Landing on Earth (2020) by Bruno Latour and Peter Weibel, which proposes that humans 'land' back on Earth truly—not as observers from above but as beings embedded in the 'Critical Zone,' the thin surface of the Earth on which all life depends. Landing is not merely a physical movement but a shift in mindset, an awareness of interconnectedness, adaptation, and the vulnerability of coexisting under overlapping powers and structures.

The “Where Are We Landing” exhibition is inspired by the concept of ‘Critical Zones’ and shifts the perspective from colonial domination of the world to listening to stories from those considered "marginalized," whether refugees from war, animals used in diplomatic missions, or living beings experimented on in outer space.

The exhibiting artists include Radni Tieman Belt (Bandung), Thuy-Han Nguyen-Chi (Berlin), Anurak Thanyapalit (Chiang Mai), Shiori Watanabe (Tokyo), and U Saw Yi (Kuala Lumpur/Taipei). Curated by Piryan Ajwichai, the exhibition presents stories to open a space to see the complex relationships between humans, nature, and colonial power, while raising new questions about arrival and existence on this planet, with details as follows:

▪️ U Saw Yi presents the story of horses and coconut trees brought to Taiwan in the Japanese Empire exhibition in 1935 as symbols of controlling nature and demonstrating imperial power.

▪️ Thuy-Han Nguyen-Chi presents a film conveying the memories of a refugee mother traveling from South Vietnam to Songkhla Province, crossing the South China Sea and facing pirates, reflecting pain, hope, and struggle in crossing borders.

▪️ Radni Tieman Belt (Bandung) uses photography to explore the landscape of West Java and the history of tea plants, once ornamental trees from East Asia before becoming an economic crop under colonial power, reflecting changes in ecosystems and food production structures.

▪️ Shiori Watanabe follows the fate of 15 largemouth bass gifted diplomatically from Chicago to Japan in the post-war era. The work highlights the long-term impacts these fish have caused, including threats to biodiversity and ecosystem changes.

▪️ Anurak Thanyapalit questions the concept of extraterrestrial colonialism by using tardigrades as representatives of tiny living beings sent to the moon, reflecting the processes of control and exploitation of life for scientific and technological benefits.

"Where Are We Landing" invites us to question and revisit power structures, possession, migration, and the relationships between humans and non-humans, so we can see that the arrival of all living beings carries stories, impacts, and the potential to change the world—naturally, culturally, and politically. Visitors will leave with a clearer question: how will we coexist in a world made up of repeated arrivals?

📍Venue: JWD Art Space (Exhibitions by JWD Art Space)
🗓 On display now until August 3, 2025
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (closed every Monday)
💵 Free admission
🚘 Parking available

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