Interviewer: Brandon Contreras
Interviewed: Alessandra Licul
Q: Sarah Choo Jing used slow movements and focus to represent a relationship in between space and time. I see you’ve used different types of movement all throughout your work. By using very similar technique, how and why does this function in your work?
A: I think that slower motion really makes the subject stand out. I tried to keep camera movements minimal for two reasons. Firstly, my subject was an animal so her motions were unpredictable. I tried to keep the frame as large as possible and camera motions minimal. Secondly, I liked the lazy feel of minimal camera motions. In my second piece I did more rapid motions actually to convey a faster time window. I also just personally like the aesthetic of slow moving, sweeping gestures. I wish I could hold the camera more steadily.
Q: In an interesting way your idea of focus reminded me of Pipilotti Rist’s “I couldn’t agree with you more”, would you mind expanding on this, tell me more about how you see this connection or another connection to video art history/media culture?
A: I like Piliotti’s Rist’s work and I think her main focus is herself as subject. I like the idea of using video as an interactive canvas, and she does this particularly well with her angling (how she is sometimes even holding the camera). She uses color more boldly than I do and this is something I am interested in working on in future projects.
Q: As you may be aware, we’ve encountered many different projects involving animals as their subject matter. using the material that you already have and having the opportunity to use more tools to edit your work, how would you portray your project in terms of a societal matter or issue.
A: In terms of societal issue, I think doing more psuedo biographical work with animals could help us humanize them so to speak. In cases of animal cruelty, animals are often viewed as part of a herd or a faceless mass, but by giving animals a personality and singling them out it can help humans be more sensitive to animal issues.