Reusable Universes: Shih Chieh Huang

June 24 - November 12, 2017
Contemporary Gallery

Reusable Universes: Shih Chieh Huang features the work of Shih Chieh Huang, who combines his longstanding fascination with technology and the materials of modern life to transform mundane manufactured objects into novel and remarkably complex sculptural forms. Huang elevates circuit building, transistor rewiring, and other hardware operations into an art that connects not only with our senses but our sense of humanity between today's virtual and analog existence.

At the Worcester Art Museum, Huang plans to create his most ambitious immersive environment to date—a kinetic sculptural installation consisting of over one hundred various-sized elements. In addition to the exhibition, the artist will create onsite his Organic Concept, an infinitely scalable sculpture made from rolls of painter's plastic and box fans. The creation will be a public performance in the Museum lobby on July 20, 2017. Afterwards, Organic Concept will be temporarily installed in the Renaissance Court.

Reusable Universes resonates with the spirit of innovation and curiosity that continues to ground Worcester today. Huang's art also will provoke the viewer to consider society's rapidly changing relationship with technology. By constructing grand works of "low-tech" art made from high-tech parts that are intentionally built to look unfinished, Huang endeavors to recapture the curiosity and wonder of early technology that will inspire visitors to likewise experiment and build anew.

Support for Reusable Universes: Shih Chieh Huang has been provided by the Taipei Cultural Center in New York; Lisa Kirby Gibbs, Robin Kirby, and Diana (Kirby) Glimm; and UniBank.

Funding has also been provided in part by The Donald and Mary Melville Contemporary Art Program Fund and The John M. Nelson Fund. Media partners are Artscope Magazine, WBUR, and Worcester Magazine.

Related Event

Third Thursday Event
Public Performance: Organic Concept
Thursday, July 20, 6pm

Witness and participate in Shih Chieh Huang's popular Organic Concept, an infinitely scalable sculpture made from rolls of painter's plastic and box fans. The installation will be created as an interactive public performance in the Renaissance Court. From 5:30 to 8pm light refreshments and a cash bar will be available. From Friday, July 21 through Sunday, July 23 Organic Concept will be installed for public viewing in the Renaissance Court.