20 Feb 2017
The Singpoare-based artist Ho Tzu Nyen presents his multimedia project ‘The Critical Dictionary of Southeast Asia, Vol. 1: G for Ghost(writers)’ at Asia Art Archive (AAA) Library from 21 Mar–19 Aug 2017.
Courtesy of the artist.
Starting with the question of what unites the region called Southeast Asia, Ho Tzu Nyen creates a ‘dictionary’ comprising narratives of shape-shifting and amorphous characters, ideas, and genres—one of which is Gene Hanrahan, who supposedly wrote and edited books of a wide ideological span, ranging from The Communist Struggle in Malaya to The Wild Years: Ernest Hemingway and 50 Great Oriental Stories.
Courtesy of the Mori Art Museum.
Ho’s installation will include the internet dictionary created in collaboration with Pad.ma, Yasuhiro Morinaga, and Bani Haykal, 16 books written and edited by Hanrahan, and Ho’s film about the figure of the writer called The Name. The installation invites visitors and readers to think about questions of authorship, authenticity, and authority.
Ho Tzu Nyen makes films, installations, and theatrical performances out of historical and philosophical texts and artefacts. His work has been presented at the Guggenheim Museum (New York, 2013); Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (Bilbao, 2015); Mori Art Museum (Tokyo, 2012); and the 54th Venice Biennale (Venice, 2011). His films have premiered at Cannes Film Festival and the 66th Venice International Film Festival.