Memory is a River explores the fluid relationship between the forgotten past and the emerging future. If memory is a river, it is not merely a path that flows behind us; it is a force that erodes, carries, and deposits fragments of identity into our present.
In this exhibition, the artists function as urban scanners. They do not just paint images; they perform a daily act of archiving. What emerges in this body of work is the close relationship between the artists’ memories and the environment: flowers floating on the surface of the canvas, patterns and textures of abstract landscapes, whimsical and dream-like scenes of nature, and nostalgic portraits of the past juxtaposed with floral motifs. This serves as a testament to how artists respond to nature’s call—the “whispers of the river,” so to speak.
Central to the exhibit is an installation using photo transfer on fabric that flows through the space, mimicking the rise and fall of a current. These photos were contributed by different generations of photographers who have scanned the city to document its hidden corners. Viewers are invited to participate by submitting their own photos; as a result, the installation will expand throughout the exhibition, creating a steady-flowing stream of collective memory.
Ultimately, the exhibition posits that memory is not a weight that drags us down, but a current we navigate. How do we carry the past as we move forward? By documenting these “remnants,” the artists suggest that even as a place transforms, its soul remains tethered to the water and the land.
Viewers are invited to experience the space as more than just passers by. Everyone is a participant in this continuous discovery. Like a river, memory can shift. What will you carry down the stream?