Espoo Museum of Modern Art
11.04.2008 - 11.01.2009
Yang Fudong: Seven Intellectuals in Bamboo Forest, Part one
Yang Fudong, born 1971 in Peijing, is amongst the most prominent contemporary Chinese artists specialized in moving image. He began his studies in China Academy of Art studying painting, but soon moved to film. His first film was An Estranged Paradise (1997) that was screened at Kassel Documenta in 2002.
Seven Intellectuals in Bamboo Forest has five parts. The series was finished in 2007 and shown as whole in the Venice Biennale the same year. Yang Fudong uses myths, individual memories and experiences as means to study identity and how it may be formed. In his films the spectator can sense the contradictions in the present and past China.
Seven Intellectuals in Bamboo Forest, Part 1, was filmed on the Yellow Mountain. The mountain has a significant status in the traditional Chinese painting. The scenery, the not so clear motives of each character in the film combined with the music creates an almost poetic atmosphere.
Directing and Cinematography:Yang Fudong
Screenplay:Ling Yunyun
Music:Jim Wang
Cast:Xian Fei, Zhou Yin, Cheng Ran, Xu Jing, Dai Zhe,
Chen Zhongzhu, Hu Dongyoung
Single-channel video/audio installation
35 mm black and white film transferred to DVD
Duration: 29:32 min