DJ Rex CHEN
Spinning phû-lōng-kòng 3
- 2022, turntable installation, 38 × 45 × 10 cm.
- Courtesy of the artist.
Curatorial Perspective
Spinning phû-lōng-kòng is based on the concept of reverberation in a lost space, embodied by bringing sound mixers, used by DJs and normally seen in nightclubs, into a fine arts museum. In such an environment, it is difficult to properly mix or play music, which leads to self-created contradictions. In addition, there are contrasts in the sounds that are broadcast externally from the equipment and those that are produced internally. The outdated atmosphere is equivalent to phû-lōng-kòng (being idle). Drifting outward and facing the external anti-venue and anti-music world, spin to become a device that creates noise and is heard by society.
Creation Description
Spinning phû-lōng-kòng is based on the concept of reverberation in a lost space, as sound mixers, used by DJs and normally seen in nightclubs, are brought into a fine arts museum. In such an environment, it is difficult to properly mix or play music, leading to self-created contradictions. In addition, there are contrasts in the sounds that are broadcast externally from the equipment and those that are produced internally. This equipment is not used to play music. Rather, by incorporating experimental methods, children’s toys that were once popular in Taiwan emit unique but repetitive sounds and multiple turntables are superimposed to create closed loops of layered noise. This is neither a dance space nor an exhibition space. Rather, forgotten toys and neglected space create an atmosphere that is equivalent to phû-lōng-kòng (being idle). Drifting outward and facing the external anti-venue, anti-music world, spin to become a device that creates noise and is heard by society.
Work
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Spinning phû-lōng-kòng 32022, turntable installation, 38 × 45 × 10 cm. Courtesy of the artist.
Artist Bio
DJ Rex Chen is a DJ and a turntablist whose practice involves playing and creating with DJ equipment, researching DJ culture and performing experimental music and live shows. In the 1990s, inspired by Rave culture, DJ JJ from Blue Records and Wang Fujui, he began to collaborate with artists Huang Po-Chih and Fang Chi and organized an underground experimental music series “Back to Basic” in Taichung. He then participated in the “Weather in My Brain Sound Visual Art Festival” organized by Silent Agreement. He also formed the experimental noise art group “tâi-uân bì-lùu” with Noisesteve and others, and released the album On The Earth with Anchih, Akin, and Noisesteve, which continued to promote the underground experimental music scenes. DJ Rex Chen’s recent works focus on creating interesting sounds and music from the perspective of turntablism and DJing; he has been collaborating with local and foreign musicians in free improvisation and experimental music exchange performances. In 2019, he formed a trio “Buddha Tiger Dog” with Miaogong Jun-Yang and Xiao Liu.