Layers (2021)
Three-screen video installation
Thisproject is a black and white three-screen installation. It started from mycuriosity on some religious prohibitions against photography, which leads me toexplore on the relationship between image and reality. The social context behindmy project is about the religious folklore in my hometown where many peoplebelieve in Buddhism. Photography is banned in most of the Buddhist templesbecause in religious perspective they think ‘taking photos of deities will capturea portion of the being’s energy and power.’ This phenomenon reminds me of thetime when camera was just invented, people felt a sense of insecurity andaggression in front of camera, just like camera will take away their lives. Additionally,there was also a statement from Balzac which says that human is formed withmultiple spectral layers, and every time when they are photographed, one ofthose layers will disappear. I attempt to question on the boundary between legends and reality,and how people’s misunderstanding of modern technology evolved over time intoreligious theological legends.
Theinstallation idea was drawn from Agnes Varda’s The Triptych of Noirmoutier,and her narrative style of the triptych breaking the boundary of the frame ofvideo. Referenced her, I did a long shot in my video without cutting, and thecontent of three screens are forming a loop. Therefore, my installation ends upwith a triangular prism with three screens projected respectively on each side.My video was also influenced by Rodney Graham’s Vexation Island’sendless loop, and Elle Pau’s Operation Theatre, in which she plays on thetransparency of people’s image in CCTC videos to create a ghost-like sense. Tome, it seems like the “spectral layers” of people floating in the air.
Screen 1, Screen 2, Screen 3 (from left to right)
The contentis me reprinting the photos of myself onto the same paper for seven times untilit turned black, while in the other frame my body was turning more and moretransparent, just like I was losing my layers. Afterwards, I burnt it in a josspaper burner. The burner is a religious symbolism which connects the “spiritualworld” and reality. Chinese people believe that one’s soul will return home onthe seventh day of death. When I was burning the photos, my body was graduallygetting clear again on the screen of laptop in Screen 1—— the photos wereburnt, my “layers” come back to my body again. That’s the reason why I comeback to the room with a clear body just as like at the beginning of the video. That’sthe end of one cycle.
Thisproject is supposed to be looping forever, but it can be stopped at any time aswell which hints the uncertainty of death.
Installation View: Screen 1, Screen 2 (from left to right)
Screen 3, Screen 1 (from left to right)