Has-been-there is derived from French philosopher Roland Barthes’ concept “That-has-been”, which posits that the essence of the unique medium of photography is its ability to capture a moment of existence and truth instantly. The exhibition extends the idea by looking at the artist as a lens that traces incidences, happenings, or emotions at a certain time and place. With an emphasis on “there”, the exhibition explores authorship, personal emotion, diaspora, as well as urban and contemporary affairs experienced by local artists in the tumultuous city.

As spectators, audiences are invited to look at a work’s “studium”—its objective symbolic meaning—and to further delve into the piece through its “punctum”—the individually-dependent element that “pierces the viewer” personally (introduced by Roland Barthes in his book Camera Lucida).

Opening Hours:
Monday–Saturday, noon–7pm;
Sunday, noon–5pm