Jun Yang
dal 8/10/2002 al 10/11/2002
Segnalato da
8/10/2002
Jun Yang
Index - the Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation, Stockholm
'I am a slow camera,' Jun Yang mentions about his work As I saw, a series of performances that will take place every day for one week in the window of Index's street-level gallery. In his performance, Jun Yang recreates an event or an object from a photograph in that day's edition of the newspaper Svenska Dagbladet. His reconstruction is then photographed and is published the following day in the news section of Svenska Dagbladet.
"I am a slow camera," Jun Yang mentions about his work AS I SAW, a
series of performances that will take place every day for one week in the
window of Index's street-level gallery. In his performance, Jun Yang
recreates an event or an object from a photograph in that day's edition of the
newspaper Svenska Dagbladet. His reconstruction is then photographed
and is published the following day in the news section of Svenska
Dagbladet. When previously performing this work, Jun Yang has, for
example, built replica airplanes, acted out large advertisements or played
the part of a Scotsman whose kilt is lifted by a breeze. The aim of
newspaper photography is to efficiently convey current information. Jan
Yang's reconstructions are the contrary: they resemble the careful work of
historians or archeologists. The photographic documentation of these
scenes or performances and its publication also plays a crucial role. It all
seems reminiscent of a sketch by the Swedish comedians Hasse and
Tage where "the true nature-lover" tenderly returns a dried fish to the sea.
Interpretations, including misinterpretations, are a fundamental part of
communication between people.
Interpretation and identification is a recurring theme in Jun Yang's art. He is
raised in Vienna, where his parents emigrated to from China, as a child he
had to interpret German for them because of their poor command of the
language. In a new video work produced for the exhibition at Index ,
connected to AS I SAW, Jun Yang narrates a story containing apparently
disparate, large and more intimate events that together treat issues and
raise questions about identity, including the identity of Jun Yang himself.
The video contains for instance events like the recent visit by Japan's prime
minister to North Korea, whose leader apologises for the kidnapping of
Japanese scientists whose expertise was considered essential to North
Korea; or the re-routing of airplanes after September 11, since "suspect
individuals" has been found on board; or Gucci bags - fashion accessories
that supposedly lend the bearer an identity, etcetera. By consistently mixing
the private, the public and the political, Jun Yang succeeds is posing
essential questions about the creation of identity and how fragile this
construction can be.
Jun Yang, exhibition at Index
9 October - 10 November 2002
Opening Wednesday 9 October, 5 - 8 p.m.
Artist talk Thursday 10 October, 7 p.m.
AS I SAW, performance Jun Yang,
Index and Svenska Dagbladet, 7 October - 11 October
Thanks to Svenska Dagbladet, the Austrian Embassy Stockholm, and to System-Text
AB.
For information and press images please contact Index.
Index' exhibition programme is managed by Andreas Gedin, Helena Holmberg, Mats
Stjernstedt and Niklas Östholm.
Index- The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation
S:t Paulsgatan 3, Box 151 52, 104 65 Stockholm
tel: 08-640 94 92, 08-640 60 69