{"id":9840,"date":"2020-04-10T13:35:42","date_gmt":"2020-04-10T13:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artzine.is\/?p=9840"},"modified":"2021-02-08T09:50:34","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T09:50:34","slug":"what-rainbows-we-choose-to-see-a-show-and-tell-with-florence-lam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artzine.is\/?p=9840","title":{"rendered":"What rainbows we choose to see, a show and tell with Florence Lam"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In what continues to be my favourite work of Hong Kong-based artist Florence Lam, a mirror, a stool and a spray bottle are arranged by a window in a carefully considered way. The Particularities of a Place<\/em> (2015) \u00a0humbly supplies us the tools to make a rainbow (should the sun be strong enough), asking us to have faith and wonder in this proposition. From the first time I\u2019d heard of this work, I believed in its abilities prior to ever seeing it in person. This collection of objects constantly reminds me that sometimes, just knowing of the potential is enough. Often after speaking with Florence, I\u2019m filled with an overwhelming feeling of capability. Her work, much like her person, refuses to believe in the impossible as she is willing to try again and again, adapting as needed, and distancing herself from the notion that there always needs to be a formalised final outcome.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"The Particularities of a Place<\/em> (2015) was the very first piece of artwork Florence made when she arrived in Iceland and has been exhibited at Hafnarborg Art Museum in 2016 and R\u00ddMD in 2017.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Originally from Hong Kong, Florence moved back at the end of 2019 after living nearly 10 years abroad having studied in London <\/span>and Reykjav\u00edk<\/span>, and was most recently living and working in Germany. For over half of the time that I have been fortunate to know her, we have lived in different countries. Perhaps one of the most nomadic souls I know, time or distance has never seemed to hinder her ability to foster genuine and lasting connections. Spending over two hours together while sitting alone in our respective rooms, over 9000 kilometers and 8 hours apart, we spoke about nature, food, boredom, (be)longing, displacement, the value of community, and many other things.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Florence continuously described this time in Hong Kong as a special one, and said she is thankful to be back. Apart from having been battling the Coronavirus from the near beginning, Hong Kong residents have been resisting an extremely violent and corrupt government for much longer, prompting protests throughout the nation. Despite the current global health crisis, residents are still resisting the many injustices that are occurring, and these political protests continue to materialise, while taking on new forms with consideration to health and safety. Florence assured me that you could still feel the political energy and tension across Hong Kong, and that it likely only feels quieter and more peaceful to those who are not personally involving themselves in the situation. I asked her if she was scared, and she said no, and that she was rather grateful, explaining that over time she\u2019s learned to cope with fear, and to accept it as reality. Being scared isn\u2019t anything special, she told me, and especially being someone from Hong Kong, it does not make you different. It\u2019s easy to lose sight of the fact that such opposing feelings and emotions are able to coexist, but amid the uncertainty and chaos, our conversation also brought forward curiosity, joy and the most refreshing breath of dry humour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Playground facilities fences off due to Coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The subject of closeness and community was at the forefront of our talk. Currently feeling most connected to Hong Kong geographically and through her values, she\u2019s gaining a new perspective of what it means to be part of a community since moving back. With full faith in the people of Hong Kong, she said that she trusts that they know what to believe in and how to act (as they have been living through various crises over the last 10+ years), and that people need to learn from their own experiences. For instance, she explained that people in Hong Kong are selective on who they\u2019re willing to meet, as going out in public not only puts themselves at risk, but places those they meet in danger as well. There\u2019s a romance, she said, smirking, in deciding who you are willing to die with or die for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Acknowledging the difference between the practicalities of where you are currently based versus what it means to contribute to and be a part of a community, Lam is well aware of the labour and sacrifices necessary in order to shape and preserve the culture in Hong Kong, recognising the reality that labour does not necessarily ensure the desired outcome. Her practice has been greatly influenced by each time she has moved or been (dis)placed, with these experiences permeating through her work and headspace over the years. Florence explained that she would be honoured to be considered as a Hong Kong artist one day, as she\u2019s witnessed first-hand the time, work, responsibility and politics associated with being considered an artist there as she slowly navigates through and immerses herself into the society once again. Performance art, she said translates to \u201caction art\u201d in Cantonese, carrying a more negative connotation of \u201csilly\u201d or symbolic actions that could bring forward some socio-political issues, but the gestures inevitably fail to change the reality. Performance art is also often placed under the same umbrella as theatre and dance in Hong Kong which can become complicated, but this has fostered a more underground community of contemporary performance artists that is slowly gaining momentum.<\/span><\/p>\n

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