A show reel includes projects: Plum in the Golden Vase (video), Cannibal Cafe (Improv video), The Unique Dancer (DVD compilation), Panda Express (installation), Straight Outta HK (music video), DivaTV (weekly TV series), Bump’n Grind (dance contest), and Fort Mason exhibiton.
…We no longer know what is imaginary or real, physical or mental, in the situation, not because they are confused, but because we do not have to know and there is no longer even a place from which to ask. It is as if the real and the imaginary were running after each other, as if each was being reflected in the other, around a point of indiscernibility. Gilles Deleuze, Cinema 2 (1)
The notion of real is under constant investigation in contemporary art along with the notion of art itself. We have encountered in postmodern art the border between reality and art is continuously under negotiation – not in terms of modes of representation, but the distance between art and its subject matter. In Deleuze’s Cinema 2, the concept of neo-realism is brought up as a reality coined in post-war film. The reality, Deleuze defines as “no longer represented or reproduced but ‘aimed at’.” Characters in neo-realist films reacted to situations of sound and images, which makes them viewers, as well, in some way (2).
This simple action of aiming at reality, raised by Deleuze, is a distinctive separation from other types of reality engagement such as “commenting on”, “being oppositional to”, or “being born in.” This writing identifies a concept of “immediate reality.” The following text looks at how this immediacy of reality is represented in popular media, art and how it effects artists to investigate realism and spectatorship. (more…)
Stretcher.org has post a review on SFAI Fort Mason show, written by Gloria Tanchelev. Following quote is a section written on my installation.
Deer Fang’s installation in a shipping container of her video-tape take on being a Chinese woman in America created a sculptural theater, retreat and home for her panda-costumed actors engaging in sex and eating bamboo (symbol of good luck). The video is a funny/sad and outrageous take on stereotypes. However, even more interesting to me was Fang’s book documenting other recent videos: Bump ‘n Grind (2006), event and video installation; Unique Dancer, (2005) installation and DVD, and Cannibal Cafe (2006), performance video. Fang works with troupes of people.
Fort Mason show is up. We made it! Thank you for Eric Zhu (Double Fish) and Jon’s endeavor at installing the show. Without them I would not have done it. Thank you for Keldamuzik, Lingo and Eric’s performance. Before the performance, we have produced one hour live interviews with artists and viewers in the show: Keldamuzik as host, Ryota Mori as camera man, Dexter Reid as editor, Kavio as second camera man and Ling Hou as assistant. Dexter made to the show even he’s sick. I hope he feels better by now. In the beginning of the show, power for mine and the space next were out due to overusing electricity from one power source. All the TVs, projectors and speakers was dead for thirty minutes. People from Fort Mason management did not provide much help except suggested me to unplug other artists’ power. Luckily Cameron Hockenson pulled down another power outlet from the ceiling and separate the heavy usage of power. Thanks Cameron, life saver!
The video of the night is showing in Fort Mason right now. I am thinking to title the video “That is art!- Episode 9 of DivaTV”. Following clip is a video uploaded by Eric Zhu of his performance that night.
Can’t believe that it’s graduation show already. This Friday from 6-9PM. Come out, of course it’s free entry for all. For my part of the show everything is going as planned now. The 8′x15′ cargo container that I am using as video projection room was delivered in Fort Mason last Saturday. During the show, besides all the video works I will be showing, DivaTV will also produce an episode of the show during the opening. From 8-8:30, Kelda and Zhu Jianhui will perform live in the container.
After some last running for equipments and material, I will be start installing from Wednesday to Thursday. Again, this is Vernissage, Master of Fine Art graduate exhibition of San Francisco Art Institute.
Show Announcement
Deer Fang, Friday, May 18, 2007, 6-9 PM @ Fort Mason Herbst Pavilion, San Francisco
Recent projects by Lu Fang
Projects part of show Lu Fang’s show include Panda Express installation, Straight Outta HK music video, cBlends men’s jackets, and DivaTV, a TV show and production live during the opening. The exhibition is a collection of projects that Fang has been involved with from 2005 to 2007 during which the artist has used the name Deer Fang. These projects revolve around the artists’ investigation into race, economy and media representation through common forms from popular culture and everyday life.
This is part of the 2007 Master of Fine Arts Graduate Exhibition at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Opening Reception: Friday May 18, 2007, 6-9 PM
From 8-8:30PM, Guest performance by Keldamuzik from DivaTV and music (DJ) by Eric Zhu (aka Zhu Jianhui)
Location: Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco
Complete Show Up-Time: Daily from May 19 - 26, 12:00 to 6:00PM
Website: www.deerfang.org
Contact: lu@deerfang.org
DivaTV, Panda Express and cBlends were shown in NFO EXPO, part of Version Festival in Chicago last week. Chicago seems to be a big enough city to contains both commercial art scene and underground art scene in large scale. Last week of April, several art festivals were happenning at the same time, from Art Chicago in Merchandise Mart in downtown, to Version Fest in south side of the city Bridgeport area. It was fortune to get to know something from both side of the Chicago art scene, by taking part in Version fest and having friends Ana and Niki in Art Chicago.
Living in San Francisco for the past almost two years, I almost forget about abandon factories are paradise for artists’ work and live. Warehouse building in Chicago is more immense than New York in my opinion. Giant concrete blocks are laid from downtown to suburban. Newer high rise buildings in downtown are adopted from these same solid style but go on vertical level instead of horizontal. Headquarter of Version fest is in Bridgeport, the edge of residencial and industrial miles. Their building and people who in the organization is the very example of alternative art space takes off by reusing abandon industrial house.
Organizer of Version Fest Ed Marszewski and his friends moved in and repaired a two floor building to live, work and host shows and parties. They called it “The Village”. On the second floor living area, the space was divided into different unites and each comprise its own kitchen, bathroom and bedroom and hangout area. The set up reminds me commune houses in China, where neighbours live very close to each other and yet family unites are separated within. And this seems to be effective for artist community where a group of individuals live and work together and still maintain good level of privacy and organization. Plus the house is great for housing visiting artists like me or friends need a place to crash after party. Ed and many others who live in the building or in the neighbourhood have put out a magazine, shows and art festivals.
The image below is Brad and Desa modeling in cBlends jackets in front of all the other artists booths in NFO EXPO.
