Q. Could you introduce your curatorial project, Ifsplashasyourwhistle, and how you started it?
A. We are an artist-led long-term project that started in early 2023, showcasing queer diaspora moving images and artists' films through mostly screenings and various other approaches.
We are both artists working on moving images. When we first moved to London, the beginning of our friendship was connected through images. We often attended screenings and cinema during that time, discussing the works we had seen and fragments of our lives. These moments made us feel a sense of belonging in a new place. So, it started quite naturally and simply; we wanted to use moving images to build an intimate network, hoping to give diaspora and queer friends a reason to gather, and pass on this energy to other people.
So far, we have already held three screening and performance nights, supported by our lovely friends at Goldsmiths Contemporary Art Centre residency space on 27/5/2023, Iklectik Lab on 3/10/2023, and Queer East Festival on 21/04/2024.
Q. During the Queer East Festival in London, I attended the Image Under the Ground exhibition, which had a great turnout. Where did the title come from?
A. Thank you for attending our screening! We named it “Image Under the Ground" because we aim to expand the geological term into the image-making process. We hope to use images and sounds to resonate with each other, capturing vulnerability, intimacy, and the illusionary multi-sensory experience. "Underground images" can refer to mediation outside of traditional industry filmmaking. Sometimes, it can be associated with the representation of violence or power distribution of the camera, the poor image aesthetic, hidden identity, or images as an underground manifesto and action.
We have always felt that immersing ourselves in a film in a dark screening room is like being in an underground world. Being with our diaspora queer friends is akin to embarking on adventures as a group of cave creatures, trying to catch each other's echoes and resonance frequency to find the path ahead. It may seem damp and dark, but this place of opacity also contains different ecologies and transitional possibilities. In this symbiosis and differentiation, we try to build intimacy and seek mutual support grounds.
Q. Through a dialogue of experimental films screening, the evening felt like an exceptional experience delving into queer experiences; it was personal, sensitive, and even humorous. What can you tell me about the work you showed there?
A. We really appreciate Queer East's support in making this screening possible. These works by Southeast and East Asian filmmakers and artists all use diverse approaches to both medium and form, ranging from autobiography to documentary, from sound performances to fiction. We are not just collecting these works but also focusing on the sequence of these time-based works to create a refraction of the unspeakable queer experience reality.
In artist Nanzheng Yang’s opening performance, she uses a sonic approach to guide the audience to her narrative-led transitional underground space. Wulao Bai’s work, 'Lovers', documents the current situation of “treatment” of homosexuality in China in the form of performance and documentary. These images capture the process of the artist's negotiation with public/medical authority in China, which we find deeply resonant.
The screening ended with the Vietnamese artist Nguyen Hai Yen's (Red) work 'A New Day HasCome',whichfindsapoeticvisualresponsetothenewtrack“NgàyMới”ofthe Vietnam-based electronic band Tiny Giant. In this work, two fictional characters travel and dance through caves and cliffs, blurring linear time and space. Coincidentally and resonantly, Red themselves have a self-organised community in Vietnam focused on choreography.
Looking forward to showing these works again in the future out of London!!
Q. How might curation affect social concerns?
A. We are not from a curating educational background; both of us studied fine art and work as artists. So for us, we are now exploring the boundaries of curation/art-making, trying to figure out what curation means to us. Perhaps we are just connecting people who share the same interests and building memories together. In response to today's institutionalised art system, we, as a self-organised artist team, are attempting to challenge its curatorial paradigm and inject some chaos (hehe).
For the Diaspora queer community, we aim to create a safe space and foster a sense of belonging. Our goal is to uplift and support queers, particularly those from South and Southeast regions. We aim to achieve this by showcasing the works of underrepresented queer artists, particularly those in film and moving image mediums, and fostering energy exchanges with audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds. All we need to do is take the initiative and allow new possibilities to unfold.
Q. Are the two of you working on any other projects this year?
A. We have too much ideas sometimes, but we are trying our best to realise them while needing to finish our separate projects and work for other jobs.
We aim to explore the concept of images as archives and mediums for activism, and plan more gatherings this year. Our goal is to redefine the distribution of image authorship and the boundaries of curation through this process. We may create a zine, host a one-night event, or develop a website for audiences to browse. We also have an idea of projecting works onto the ceiling, with audiences lying down on pillows or even mattresses. The duration could be hours, ideally lasting the whole night. It sounds crazy, but we want to push boundaries! If anyone knows of any available spaces or rooms, please link us up! Xx
Q. I want this platform to be more about sharing and supporting one another. Are there any other artists or curators you believe we should be aware of?
A. Speaking about this, we would love to introduce our friend, Gourd Canteen, an initiative exploring and engaging the Sinophone art community in the UK and beyond. Our first debut screening was supported by them; we couldn't have done it without their help and care. They often organise workshops, artist talks, screenings, and a wide range of other events to build an evolving site for active exchanges and critical discussions. Every time we spend time with them, it feels very grounding yet mind-blowing. Feel free to follow their Instagram @gourdcanteen to learn more about them and their future events.
Q. Could you give us your website or Instagram account so that others can locate your platform?
A. sure, our Instagram is @ifsplashasyourwhistle_ , we are planning to build a website soon.