Instant Coffee

Instant Coffee is a service oriented artist collective based in Toronto and Vancouver. Through formal installations and event-based activities, it builds a public place to practice, where ideas, materials and actions can be explored outside of the isolated studio and in a manner that renegotiates traditional exhibition structures, but is still supported by them. Instant Coffee's frequent practice is to build architectural installations, which become venues for a series of organized events from formal lectures and screenings to informal gatherings and workshops. Each installation requires hosts who initiate some form of social interaction.

Instant Coffee has an extensive art practice, spanning over ten years. As an artist collective they have invested in combining the social with the aesthetic, and as such have worked in public spaces to engage large audiences. Recently, IC exhibited at MKG 127, Toronto, Take the Easy Way, as well as produced The hero, the villain, the salesman, the parent, a side kick and a servant at Teck Gallery, SFU, Vancouver. IC will also participate in a residence programme at Incheon Art Platform, S. Korea and have designed an installation for the Craft Biennale Cheongju International. They will launch two publications with Western Front, Vancouver and YYZ Artist Outlet, Toronto. IC recently produced two public artworks, Perpetual Sunset, a sequin sunset in Richmond, BC and Blanket Mural a sculptural wall mural for the City of Edmonton. As part of the City of Vancouver's 2010 Cultural Olympic programme, IC opened Light Bar a full-spectrum light bar installation and venue. In 2009 IC exhibited the Disco Fallout Shelter, at the Toronto Sculpture Garden, and as part of Subvision, Hamburg; Nooks as part of How Soon is Now, Vancouver Art Gallery; Light Bar as part of Assume Nothing, New Social Practice, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Other select residencies and exhibitions include Sølyst, Denmark, Kuenstlerhaeuser Worpswede, Germany; Flaggfabrikken/Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen, Norway; School of Non-Productive Learning, Aarhus, Denmark; Mercer Union, Toronto; Henry Art Gallery, Seattle; Casa del Encuentro MDE07 encuentro internacional, Medellin, Colombia; the Yerba Buena Centre, San Francisco and the America's Society, New York. Instant Coffee's most consistent members are Jinhan Ko, Kelly Lycan, Jenifer Papararo, and Khan Lee.