Fiona Tan's Hypnotic Films at Documenta 11
At Documenta 11 in 2002, Fiona Tan presented "Countenance," a work that blurs the boundary between film and photography. Tan's practice investigates her Chinese heritage and the lives of others through layered temporalities. Her choice of medium and display is always tightly coupled with content—for instance, in "Cradle," a hypnotic image of a rocked baby is projected onto a handkerchief. "Countenance" continues Tan's exploration of "photographic moments" within moving image, situating itself in an intermediate zone between the two media.
Key facts
- Fiona Tan presented at Documenta 11 in 2002.
- The work shown was titled 'Countenance'.
- 'Countenance' exists in an intermediate zone between film and photography.
- Tan researches her Chinese origins and slices of life.
- Her films use crossed temporalities mixing past, present, and future.
- Medium and display format are precisely matched to content.
- In 'Cradle', an image of a rocked baby is projected onto a handkerchief.
- Tan explores 'photographic moments' within her films.
Entities
Artists
- Fiona Tan
Institutions
- Documenta 11
Locations
- Kassel
- Germany
Sources
- artpress —