SCREENING: ALTER EGOS—USING ONE'S FEET HAS BECOME AN OPTION OF LAST RESORT
In the dark streets of The Hague, the window of the Das Leben am Haverkamp studio will transform into an open air cinema! Every two weeks a new experimental triptych will be shown, presenting a new generation of image makers. Ranging from experimental film, to animation, to virtual fashion, the presented works explore the body and the act of dressing up as vehicles for change. Through speculative beings, they investigate the politics of the costumed body. Now on show: Using one’s feet has become an option for last resort by Tra My Nguyen.
Drawing upon her vivid memories of riding motorbikes in Vietnam during her childhood, the 3-channel video work by Tra My Nguyen explores diasporic memories. A speculative protagonist brings her memories to life.
The motorbike culture in contemporary Vietnam has come to symbolize the country's transition to capitalism since the mid-1980s. This project delves into various aspects, such as consumerism, mobility, gender, and class identity, to explore the emerging street style of Vietnamese motorcyclists who wear sun-protective clothing.
By deconstructing and reassembling sun-protective garments into "wearable sculptures," this project introduces an empowering strategy. The protagonist reinterprets their past encounters with discrimination, offering a new perspective on their experiences by redefining the concept of mobility and the female experience. They blur the boundaries of the body with commodities such as motorbike and fashion, reclaiming public spaces and embracing methods of "feminist collectivity."
The video is developed in the context of a multidisciplinary work including a speculative fashion collection, a video installation and a series of textile sculptures.
DAILY SCREENING HOURS
17:00 - 23:00 h
LOCATION
Stille Veerkade 19, The Hague
Many thanks to the selection committee, consisting of Frank Verkade, Leroy Sirasit van Halen, Smaibery Payero and Verena Blok. Special thanks to our technical support Ivo van Stiphout from VideoArtLab.
The project is kindly supported by Creative Industries Fund NL, Gemeente Den Haag and Het Cultuurfonds.