Contact the host Ash for discussions and questions: mengtianz@yahoo.com
Candace Huey, founder and principal of re.riddle, an itinerant gallery which presents unique programming showcased in site-specific exhibitions and pop-up events worldwide. Re.Riddle curates socially engaging and multidisciplinary exhibitions of contemporary art in thought provoking and playfully subversive ways.
Candace currently teaches Art History at a renowned private university in San Francisco, sits on the board council of SECA SFMoMA, de Young Museum College Programs Advisory and is an active member of ArtTable and Artadia San Francisco Council.
“About a year and half after my second daughter’s birth, I went through the darkest period in my life. I felt myself withering in the immense silence in libraries. I cannot be a good mother, I want to leave this world.”
“After recovering from that difficult time, I decided to create something for myself —leading to the birth of my gallery Re.Riddle: a conceptual gallery without a fixed address.“
“Although trained as an academic, I feel the rebellion in me, my choices and creations break tradition.”
“Child-like curiosity is my key motivation of doing all this, it enables re.riddle to peek into the deeper pores of our society and humanity
This interview took place in San Francisco on an October afternoon. The North Californian sun was pouring a sea of sparkling autumn sunlight into the lobby of Hotel Kabuki in Japan Town. The hotel used to be a historical place where famous musicians and artists would stay during the Hippie Era. Even nowadays you may still walk into a few big names in the lobby.
Candace arrived just on time. She was elegant and a bit shy, with the petite stature of an Asian women. She talked with a soft voice, her eyes alert with the demeanor of a deer. After a short warm up, we walked upstairs to the room and began our interview where she gradually opened the door into her world where art, dreams and pain are intertwined.
// Timeline //
04:10 The meaning behind “Re:riddle” and the inspiration to name it.
07:53 The fun part of the art re.riddle cutrates is to have different ways to read one piece of art.
10:50 Itinerant gallery engages with different settings and expands to a wider context.
13:52 Do not set out to ‘rebel’ for the sake of it. If you follow your authenticity, you’ve already subverted.
15:25 Pick your ‘signature exhibitions’: “Here is Where We Meet”, an ongoing, process-based social experiment.
25:42 Balance between an artist’s vulnerability and ego when it comes to making a collaborative work of art
34:00 The (weird) scents applied to art exhibitions to create sensorial experiences
43:49 The non-verbal artist duo AlexanderMushi and their “Chair Conversation”
51:11 The “what-if” spirit behind all this: a desire for curiosity
55:22 To speak up vs. to be a good girl?
1:06:20 re:riddle was created in the darkest period of her life but brought colors to her life thereafter
1:18:46 (DON’T MISS IT) Great advice for people struggling to live authentically
// More on re.riddle and Candace //
Official: https://www.reriddle.com
Ins: https://www.instagram.com/re.riddle/?hl=en
Fb: https://www.facebook.com/re.riddleart/
// Music //
Muse - Uprising (2009)
Edvard Grieg - Lyric Pieces, Op.12, Arietta
Kareem Lofty - Chromosome
Underworld - Born Slippy
// Behind the scene //
Ideation / Interview / Editing: Ash
Copy: Cynthia, Sam
Translation: Lesley
Special thanks: Rebekah