The film screening programme scheduled for Art Basel Hong Kong 2024 is set to showcase a compelling exhibition zone curated by multimedia artist and filmmaker Li Zhenhua. Titled “Film,” this programme emerges from a collaborative effort between Art Basel Hong Kong, the international video platform Nowness, and Hong Kong’s prominent non-profit art organisation, Videotage. The event will feature ten screenings from March 27th to March 30th at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“Back & Forth & Back” (2023), DE SARTHE Gallery
Chan Ka Kiu,Back & Forth & Back (2023), Single channel video, 7’00” (still). ©Chan Ka Kiu, Courtesy DE SARTHE.
Chan Ka Kiu,Back & Forth & Back (2023), Single channel video, 7’00” (still). ©Chan Ka Kiu, Courtesy DE SARTHE.
Hong Kong-based artist, Chan Ka Kiu, presents a captivating two-part cinematic endeavour, employing AI-generated visuals and voice-over narration. The film portrays the tales of a white horse abandoning its heavenly life due to an inexplicable obsession, venturing alone into hell in search of the essence of a purposeful existence. This screening serves as a thought-provoking exploration, prompting viewers to contemplate the nature of purpose and their own lingering dilemmas.
“The Night of Peacemaking” (2022), Kiang Malingue
Installation views; Searing Pain ; Aranya Art Center; September 4 2022 - February 5, 2023.
Photography: Sun Shi. © Tao Hui
Tao Hui; The Night of Peacemaking (2022); Singel channel HD video; color; sound; Dimensions variable; 22 min 18 sec; Supported and produced by Aranya Art Center.
Photo: Courtesy the artist, Kiang Malingue (Hong Kong), and Esther Schipper (Berlin l Paris l Seoul)
Tao Hui, born in Yunyang, Chongqing in 1987, created a large-scale video installation “The Night of Peacemaking” for this year’s exhibition. By constructing a television program shooting scene in the exhibition hall, viewers are immersed in the behind-the-scenes environment which documents the recording process of a family mediation program. This setup allows the scenes to be vividly depicted in the viewers’ minds through the interplay between the screen and the physical space, offering a visceral and stimulating experience to dissolve the boundaries between fiction and reality.
“Sorry for the Late Reply” (2021), Kiang Malingue
Wong Ping; Sorry for the late reply ( 2021); Single channel video animation; colour; with sound; 15 min.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Kiang Malingue
Wong Ping; Sorry for the late reply ( 2021); Single channel video animation; colour; with sound; 15 min.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Kiang Malingue
Hong Kong artist Wong Ping is a master of crafting lively and imaginative animated worlds, distinguished by a colourful and playful approach. Through his distinct artistic lens, he delves into the depths of personal emotions and contemporary political issues. In his video animation “Sorry for the Late Reply,” Wong Ping extends beyond mere storytelling by drawing from first-hand narratives and journals. By using single-handed video animations, he delves into the desires and anxieties of urban residents and explores the vast landscape of human experience.
“Sex” (2021), Sprüth Magers
Eliza Douglas in Sex, 2021 (video still); HD film; colour; with sound; 193 min.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist, Sprüth Magers and Galerie Buchholz
Eliza Douglas in Sex, 2021 (video still); HD film; colour; with sound; 193 min.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist, Sprüth Magers and Galerie Buchholz
German artist Anne Imhof presents “Sex”, a video-based artwork that marks her debut venture into film-first art. The 193-minute film seamlessly integrates footage from the first chapter of her performance of the same name, which premiered at London’s Tate Modern in March 2019. Building upon this foundation, Imhof continues to infuse the work with her distinctive and enigmatic visual language. Notably, Imhof’s collaborator and muse is the renowned artist Eliza Douglas, adding an extra layer of artistic synergy to their frequent joint ventures.
“A New Old Play” (2021), Star Gallery
A New Old Play (2021), Qiu Jiongjiong.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Star Gallery
Born in 1977 in Leshan, Sichuan, China, contemporary artist and director Qiu Jiongjiong crafted a 179-minute feature film that delves into the tumultuous era of 20th-century China. The film narrates the story of a Sichuan Opera clown named “Qiu Fu,” who experiences the highs and lows within the opera troupe before embarking on a journey to the underworld upon death. In hell, he drinks Meng Po soup to forget all the joys and sorrows of the mortal world.
Translated by Hala Kassem
Editor
Peggie KeiCredit
Lead image: A New Old Play by Qiu Jiongjiong. Courtesy of the artist and Star Gallery.
