While Manifesto 2 is in preparation, Manifesto 1 contributor Ding Cheuk-laam 丁卓嵐 shares her relentless “murmurs” beyond the 140-page Videography. Micro Narratives. Temporal Beings. Our Manifestos. (2017-2018) Why has Ding done what she did as a videographer? What is in store for her videography in future? Her contemplation notes will be published in 3 parts. In #01, she describes videography as her mode of interrogation which embodies the poetic, historical, the existential. and how to live.
\n#01
\nA single moment contains diverse worlds. We share the same world but live with fundamental differences. The way words pull us together are limited and precarious; yet a mysterious tension draws us together. As we meet, the throb of the psychic and the pore of our bodies created a twitch, which is a momentary oneness of our state of mind. I got this from Laozi’s Daodejing (老子《道德經》).
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\nSomehow, art awakens people. ‘Awaken’, being an active verb, makes art seems to be at a higher position in the society, but it is not. Conversely, it is from the bottom and from the inside. I believe that there is a power hidden among us, yet detaching us is layers and layers of rotting and absurd values. Art is the mediator – every single time when inspirations come and the artist enjoys the process of making; when the work is made; when it is the process of creating; when the finished creation is shown to the audiences – it competes with those layers. A power connects the detached and achieves ‘oneness’ is generated in each steps. Creating is fragmented power. When these powers draw together, it turns into a huge power.
\nIt seems to be magic, an originated one, and not surprising at all. It seems to be unbelievable just because it is the decades of urbanization. it reminds me of Chinese medicines – natural materials: flowers, grasses, trees, stones, or living things, boiled to be medicines to heal our sickness of bodies or minds.
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\nThis video manifesto is not any kind of ultimate truth. It is just the speaking of what one believes and foresees.
\nTo be honest, it is always hard for me to distinguish one thing from another, including the mediums in art. As I believe different routes gets to the same destination, and we actually live within each other.
\nRoutes: Mediums | Destination: The possibilities created in experiments -> Dao / the origin of the creation of all things
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\nHowever, the crucial thing is that the above thoughts came to me not before I got in touch with micro-narratives and videography writing. First, discovering the similarity between the vibrations of the brain, videography and writing. Then, relating drawings, dramas and calligraphy – which seems to be always breaking traditions in contemporary art.
\nAnd this routine repeats in daily lives and the society, like activists devote into different fights.
\nIt seems to be an easy substitution or metaphor. Yet the breaking I mentioned here is not replacing, but a change with inclusiveness and unlimited possibilities.
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\nAs for me, experimental videography gave me this imagination/integration.
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