The cloud of unknowing 2011 is titled after a 14thcentury medieval treatise. Eight figures come into contact with the cloud and share their feelings of transcendence. Ho tzu nyen on how and why he appropriated tony leung. The cloud of unknowing 2011 is titled after a 14thcentury medieval treatise on faith, in which the cloud of unknowing that stands between the aspirant and god can only be evoked by the senses, rather than the rational mind. The catalogue, invite and posters were designed with these qualities in mind. He draws inspiration from by pre20th century dutch, french and italian paintings, historical and theoretical texts and music. Pdf published on the occasion of the exhibition the cloud of unknowing for the singapore. Singapore will not participate in the 20 venice biennale, according to a report in the strait times. Was regelmatig je handen en blijf op voldoende afstand van anderen. The original cloud of unknowing was an anonymous medieval. Inspired by philosopher hubert damischs thesis on the forms aesthetics and symbolism, a theory of cloud. The brief was for the catalog of an audio and visual installation the cloud of unknowing, by ho tzu nyen for the singapore pavilion at the venice bi.
An earlier version of this essay was published by the contemporary art centre of south australia, adelaide, for the exhibition ho tzu nyen 20 1 0, as part of cacsa projects, aprilmay, 201 0. The cloud of unknowing 2011 is an immersive multichannel video installation that explores the representation of the elusive and amorphous cloud. Ho tzu nyen, the cloud of unknowing iii, 20112018, synchronized 2channel hd projection, 12 channel sound, smoke, lights, show control system. Eastern and western culture and spirituality meet in the cloud of unknowing, a haunting halfhour video by singapores ho tzu nyen. Ho tzu nyen s multichannel video installation the cloud of unknowing 2011 explores the expansive subject of the representation of the elusive and amorphous cloud. The cloud of unknowing is also the title of a prayer book from the medieval ages. The cloud of unknowing 2011, for example, an epic work presented by ho for.
His videos and installationsthe primary format of his outputare populated with characters as myriad as the sources from which they come. It may appear light and translucent, but can turn dark and heavy at an instant. The brief was for the catalog of an audio and visual installation the cloud of unknowing, by ho tzu nyen for the singapore pavilion at the venice biennale 2011. Terror and metamorphosis clouds suggest elevation, yet the act of staring up at a cloud makes one feel the downward pull of gravity, of flesh and mortality. Toward a history of painting, first published in 1972, in which the author uses symbology interpretation of. Ho tzu nyen, born in 1976, is a singaporean artist who works primarily in the medium of film and multimedia installations. Singapore pavilion at the 54th venice biennale eflux. I feel as though this book has restored some part of my sanity. The cloud of unknowing is part of a larger spiritual movement in fourteenth century england which includes writings such as the ancrene riwle, the fire of love by richard rolle d. Ho tzu nyen is a multidisciplinary artist interested in the construction of history and the relationships between still, moving and painted images.
In the video, eight protagonists act out their daily lives. Courtesy of russell morton a groundbreaking initiative in contemporary art was recently launched by the. The cloud of unknowing is a reference to a spiritual reality that we do not always know what may be blocking or hindering our relationship with god. In a statement released to press, the citystates national arts council said that it plans. Misty clouds infiltrate and invade the homes of eight characters, culminating in hysterical confrontations with these inscrutable specters. A plethora of historical references dramatised by musical scores and allegorical lighting make up the pillars of ho tzu nyen s b.
Departing from this history, ho tzu nyen s work 2 or 3 tigers began as a restaging of a 1885 wood engraving representing the first recorded meeting of a white man and malayan tiger in singapore in 1835. Immersive and dreamlike, his films incorporate elements of painting and performance as he. We cannot completely know or understand god, but in this exercise, we do not use our mind, thoughts, feelings, or even self, to try to understand god. We use cookies to deliver our online services and to provide more personalized services to you. Toward a history of painting, first published in french in 1972, ho s work incorporates a. The ouroboros delighted to share ho tzu nyens group show, the ouroboros, an international joint exhibition that marks the second phase in the 20182019 taiwanluxembourg exchange program. Originally presented as an installation at the venice biennale. The original cloud of unknowing was an anonymous medieval christian guide to contemplative spirituality whose ideas bear similarities to the eastern meditative tradition. Drawing from historical events, documentary footage, art history, music videos, and mythical stories, ho tzu nyen s films and installations investigate the construction of history, the narrative of myth, and the plurality of identities.
Ho tzu nyen, the cloud of unknowing 2011, color video with sound, 28 min. Autumnwinter 2020, issue 50, edited by charles esche, mark lewis, ute meta bauer, nav haq, amber husain, adeena mey, and charles stankievech is published by university of chicago press journals. Sheets slides books blogger hangouts keep jamboard collections arts and culture more from. The cloud of unknowing is a machine for working through these cloud metaphors, set in a block of. Ho tzu nyen discusses his immersive and monumental work the cloud of unknowing, displayed at st paul st gallery from 10 may to 11 august 20 as part of the 5th auckland triennial, if you were. The cloud of unknowing, ho tzu nyen, singapore, 2011, singlechannel hd video projection and channel sound files. Click on a title to look inside that book if available. Ho tzu nyens multichannel video installation the cloud of unknowing 2011 explores the expansive subject of the representation of the elusive and. Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Never has a wisp of condensed water contained so much menace than in the work of ho tzu nyen, a master of suspense and a keen explorer of human uncertainty. Ho tzu nyen on how and why he appropriated tony leung films for the nameless by sonia kolesnikovjessop june 14, 2016. One can be sure, first of all, that he was a profound religious genius. Though the fourteenth century author of the cloud of unknowing and the book of privy counseling remains unknown, one can be certain of a few things about him based on his writings and translations. Singapore will sit out 20 venice biennale observer.
Pdf biennale arte 2011 singapore pavilion, ho tzu nyen. Akanga film asia is an independent production company based in singapore that was created in 2005 to produce quality films by a new generation of asian and southeast asian filmmakers. Clouds suggest elevation, yet the act of staring up at a cloud makes one feel the downward pull of gravity, of flesh and mortality. The cloud of unknowing title the cloud of unknowing by ho tzu nyen singapore 2011 synopsis sensory film based on a 14thcentury mystical text. Shot in a decaying block of vacated apartments in the remote outskirts of singapore, the cloud of unknowing by singaporean filmmaker tzu nyen ho is fittingly flooded with ghostly presences. Op onze informatiepaginas lees je waar je in deze periode op moet letten. The cloud of unknowing by artist ho tzu nyen is a multimedia video installation shown at singapore pavilion of the venice biennale of art in 2011. The installation consisted of a collection of hanrahans books and a film. In a rambling, expansive essay in forum on contemporary art and society from 2007, ho traces the story of how catsbig and small, wild and domesticated, imagined and realhave been enigmatically woven into the history of singapore. Never has a wisp ofcondensed water contained so much menacethanin the work ofho tzunyen, amaster of suspense and akeen explorer ofhuman uncertainty. The cloud of unknowing, an immersive film by singaporean filmmaker tzu nyen ho.
The cloud of unknowing, ho tzu nyen, singapore, 2011. Nyen often collaborates with theater professionals, and the lighting in his films is meticulously. The cloude of unknowing is an anonymous work of christian mysticism written in middle english in the latter half of the 14th century. The text is a spiritual guide on contemplative prayer in the late middle ages.
His complicated life story was the starting point for singapore artist ho tzu nyen s twochannel synchronized video, the nameless, now being shown at art basels prestigious unlimited section. Biennale arte 2011 singapore pavilion, ho tzu nyen. The white man in question is george dromgold coleman, government superintendent of public works in singapore and surveyor of the station. Ho tzu nyen is a careful and attentive student of neglected histories. Ho tzu nyen 1976, singapore studied at art academies in singapore and melbourne, australia. As a result, he uses drawings, photos and videos to tell his stories. The cloud of unknowing and the book of privy counseling by. Pop culture references commingle with citations from bygone eras in a studied, cinematic collapse of time. I actually like it better than the more famous cloud of unknowing. On view is tzus video work the cloud of unknowing 2011 that explores the expansive subject of the representation of the elusive and amorphous cloud. Ho tzu nyen singapore, 1976 a plethora of historical references dramatised by musical scores and allegorical lighting make up the pillars of ho tzu nyen s b.
These themes of unfulfilled, incomplete understandings is echoed in another work, the cloud of unknowing 2011. Ho tzu nyen s artistic practice, which primarily includes film and multichannel installations, explores the construction of historical narratives through images and events such as documentary, theater, art, philosophy, and archival materials. The cloud of unknowing venice biennale communication arts. On view is tzu s video work the cloud of unknowing 2011 that explores the expansive subject of the representation of the elusive and amorphous cloud.
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