Beth and Silas are both interested in the personal stories which are rooted in immigration, nationality, and living a life as an artist.
Sticks of Rock
Beth Fox
08:01, HD video, 2021
The protagonist in the video is an immigrant to the UK reminiscing about working in a sweet shop on the seafront in England. They reflect on tourism, souvenirs, and the concept of the edible memory.
Beth Fox is an Irish artist based in London. Her videos are personal essays relayed by voiceover, illustrated using appropriated footage and self shot material, often incorporating green screen techniques and handmade props. Spontaneous autobiographical writing acts as a departure point, and she draws heavily on archival material of the recent past, using the Google/YouTube rabbit hole as an active narrative force. Beth's humorous stories touch on universal themes of identity; questioning masculinity/femininity, social class, and abstract notions of homeland/belonging.
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Bienenstich
Silas Fong
10:46, UHD video, sound, colour, 2021
Artist learns to survive in difficult situations, in poor financial status, joblessness, pressure from society and family, occupied by an unrelated full-time job or taking care of their family, further studies, lack of space or exposure to the audience and collectors. On top of these, many artists live in a foreign country for good reasons. While living abroad offers lots of advantages, not every artist enjoys equal respect or understanding. Silas Fong interviewed artists who have lived or living in a foreign country about their struggling experience. He asked about their comfort food when they were frustrated, angry or sad. During the preparation and consumption of the comfort food, Fong tries to empathise with these artists and feels better.
Born in 1985 in Hong Kong, Silas Fong is a contemporary artist. He furthered his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Cologne after earning his MFA from Department of Fine Arts at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012 and BA from Academy of Visual Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2008. Silas Fong evaluates the context behind each project to develop respective approaches for conceptual and critical expression. His work is often reflective of his role as an observer, artist and educator. He has showcased at Liverpool Biennial (2010), Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong (2020), Hong Kong Museum of Art (2009), Goethe-Institut Hongkong (2016), Taipei Soka Art Center (2012), City Gallery Wellington (2013), ZKM (2013), Saatchi Gallery London (2012), Dresden Cynetart (2013) and Microwave International New Media Festival (2013) and more.
Please visit here to see the exchange archive of Silas and Beth.