“D-Normal/V-Essay" : Video Essay Competition

Lai Chiu-han, Linda

Lai Chiu-han, Linda’s artistic and scholarly works extend her PhD training in Cinema Studies at NYU. Lai is an interdisciplinary artist, media archaeologist, and advocate curator for experimental art. She curated “Algorithmic Art: Shuffling Space and Time” (2018-19) and founded the new media art “The Writing Machine Collective” (2004-). Her feminist sensibility entrenches knowledge production in practices, integrating Critical Theory, image theories and narrativity, asking: what is art’s specific role in historiography? Her montage art has been featured in various international art events, including solo features at Pearl Lam Galleries, EXiM, EXiS and C3A Spain (2021). Her digital works are archived and collected at the Video Bureau and M+, and her large-scale installation commissioned by the Shanghai Biennale (2012-13) is now permanent at Power Station for Contemporary Art. “Floating Projects” is her in-depth, on-going participatory art experiment. With the Floating Projects Collective, she realizes D-Normal/V-Essay on-line video zine for HKADC’s Arts Go Digital Platform Scheme.

Articulate: Re-Inventing the Video Essay

“In the day of isolation, sharing thoughts is therapeutic.”

“D-Normal/V-Essay” aims at (1) developing the many possibilities of the accessible format of the video essay; (2) with which we build a virtual community whose creative and intellectual exchange forms; (3) a virtual environment, at once a magazine-gallery and an archive, which allows revisits, expandable, and with retaining value.

VIDEO ZINE #1 OCULAR ORACULAR

What is artistic creativity? What kind of makers can we (afford to) be? Issue #1 of “D-Normal/V-Essay”, Ocular Oracular, gathered through our open call a rich assemblage of voices, a manifestation of a contemporary landscape of creativity by serendipity, not by planning. Works came from different parts of the world — Argentina, Europe, USA, UK, Korea and more, including digital nomads and those working between cities…, all sharing the same spirit of pushing boundaries. After rigorous discussion by the jurors panel, we finally selected 21 works from over 70 spectacular video works to be published on OCULAR ORACULAR.

VIDEO ZINE #2 THE ULTRA-REALIST, THE EXTRA-ORDINARY

Like in “Ocular Oracular,” Dn/Ve #1, the theme of this issue emerges as we watched and discussed the submitted works one by one, from artists and authors all around the world who highlight their transnational presence. It was truly an eye-opening experience for us.

VIDEO ZINE #3 PRESENCING…BECOMING

In this round, we experience the tenacity of asserting one’s presence which highlights the momentary, the liminal, and what is about to come (or may not come). And without surprises, a handful of works describe, point and allude to the Covid-19 global experience. Loneliness and isolation acquire new languages. The body wakes up to new challenges. Expected or not, this issue “archives” these epoch-marking experiences.

Workshops

Motion Picture Film Workshop
Date: 28/02/2021
Time: 2:00 – 5:30pm
Venue: Floating Projects (L306D @JCCAC)

Stop Motion Workshop
Date: 21/03/2021
Time: 3:00 – 6:00pm
Venue: Floating Projects (L306D @JCCAC)