The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is presenting "Everyday War," the first North American solo exhibition of Taiwanese artist Yuan Goang-Ming, on view through August 4. The show features two video installations—"Dwelling" (2014) and "Everyday War" (2024)—that depict domestic spaces being violently destroyed by unseen forces, only to reassemble moments later. Yuan, who created "Everyday War" for the Venice Biennale, uses slow-motion explosions and intimate household details to evoke anxiety, beauty, and catharsis without showing blood or fleeing figures.
The exhibition matters because it offers a timely meditation on pervasive contemporary anxieties—from geopolitical tensions to domestic instability—while finding hope in the cycle of destruction and repair. Yuan's work resonates with current events, including protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles, and provides a rare opportunity for North American audiences to experience the acclaimed Taiwanese artist's practice. The show demonstrates how art can transform fear into a contemplative, even comforting, experience.