Examining the Discourse of Non-Places in Capitalist Society through “Signal Z”

The exhibition “Signal Z,” held at the Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art in 2023, shares a remarkable resemblance with the museum’s previous exhibition in 2020, “Liquid Love.”(液態之愛) Both exhibitions are rooted in Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of “liquid modernity.” However, while “Liquid Love” approached the idea of a liquid society from the perspective of the flâneur, “Signal Z” delves into discussions about liquid modernity through the lens of non-place and a wider array of viewpoints. In addition to its different approach, “Signal Z” is considerably larger in scale compared to its predecessor. While “Liquid Love” only occupied the second floor of the museum, “Signal Z” encompasses nearly the entire contemporary art space. It comprises four main sections: “Smooth Images,” “Flowing Spaces,” “Contemporary Bodies,” and “Dissipating Landscape.” This expansion reflects the museum’s innovative breakthrough in reflecting on modernity. To succinctly summarize each section, “Smooth Images” centers on artworks employing painting as their medium; “Flowing Spaces” tackles the concept of existence and non-existence in spaces, as well as non-place; “Contemporary Bodies” focuses on individuals laboring under the capitalist society; and “Dissipating Landscape” takes a humanistic approach, concerning itself with five distinct social events and exploring the potential of art’s intervention. <a href="https://medium.com/@tammy91114/examining-the-discourse-of-non-places-in-capitalist-society-through-signal-z-69dc88d79c37">Learn More</a>