Xu Tan open studio attempts to carry out the work from the first scene of artistic practice, including the following aspects: first of all, how does the artist personally organize and research the database composed of each project in interviews and surveys, to Writing for integrated media. On the other hand, as a platform of "public research", how to cooperate with researchers in other fields and encourage people of different social classes and identities to enter research activities. At the same time, how can space, as a physical carrier, become a testing ground for continuous detection of research results, and allow the project itself to return to the public in the process of continuous research, investigation, discussion and display.
In the open space between the village and the park of Nantou Ancient Town and outside the indoor exhibition hall, a tent made of wood, bamboo, and rattan is built. The tent constitutes a connection between the two exhibition spaces, and in terms of functions, it creates a space for discussion and video playing.The Village Rain Project will be carried out in the tent. It mainly looks into artist groups living and working in certain urban communities and suburban villages in the Pearl River Delta region, such as how they deal with communities, and how they live there. The project will focus on not only the social practice of the artists, but also the relationship between their social practice and lives as they are living in the places where they work. It is hoped that the study will reflect, or display what life is like for people represented by the artists in these places. The research project will consists of sub-projects, namely Xisan Film Studio (Xisan, Guangzhou), Newwho Art Village (Shenzhen), and SoengJoengToi (Guangzhou).
Xu Tan project Solo exhibition was launched at Weng brothers' home, Daao village, Jinkeng Township, Shigou Town, Sihui County, Zhaoqing City On June 25, 2019, which is the first implementation of individual exhibition project. It is chaired by Xu Tan open studio. With the title of Socio-Botanic, Xu Tan did research in this village several times during 2013-15. After research, he produced and completed some visual works. For the project of Solo exhibition, Xu Tan selected two video works and, with the help of Xu Tan open studio, they brought the video playing equipment to the Weng brothers' home to play. Solo Exhibition will be a series of projects, and will continue to bring the works, that is, the research, especially the research results, to the scene where the investigation was conducted—mainly the villagers' homes and village activities, also other investigation sites.