Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.12.2018, Blaðsíða 36

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The Weight
of Air
Capturing the Intangible Through
the Camera Lens of Ng Hui Hsien
Words: Mulan Photo: Ng Hui Hsien
Exhibition
The exhibit is open from November
23rd through February 4th, 2019.
More information is available on the
Reykjavík Museum of Photography
website.
A translucent fabric quietly bil-
lows to the left when you reach the
upper floor of the Reykjavík City
Library. The Weight of Air, a pho-
tography exhibition featuring the
work of Ng Hui Hsien, is the first
and last thing you see as you walk
in and out of the museum. Like
a delicate conch shell, the bright
white space spirals inwards, three
veils swelling with each breath
ushered into the space. Walking
through the photographs of Ice-
land’s earthly terrains, imprinted
on the curved fabrics to evoke
a dream-like, ethereal state of
mind, the viewer is gently coaxed
into an exploration of the space
and the self. Acting on a sense of
self-discovery and journey, the
artist chose to use the soft textiles
in creating a welcoming air to her
exhibition. “The translucent qual-
ity of the fabric alludes to snow,”
she says, “this, together with the
gentle movement of the fabric, is
meant to evoke associations with
dreams as you move through the
space. It is a psychological space as
much as it is a physical one.”
Capturing the
Intangible
As much as the photography of Hui
Hsien is another way of seeing the
world through the eyes of the art-
ist, the medium of photography is
also used to reflect on the mode
of photography it-
self as an art form.
“Photog raphy i s
used to capt ure
something visible,”
the artist explains,
“but it is also a way
of pointing toward
something intan-
gible.” Hui Hsien
relocated to Bristol
in order to pursue a
MA in Photography following her
sociology studies in Singapore.
Personal factors in her life led her
to take up the hobby. Invited to
a month-long retreat in Iceland,
the artist used the opportunity
to capture the sense of stillness
the environment provided, while
processing the emotions arising
within herself.
Underlying Strength
A key element of Hui Hsien’s ex-
hibition is a hand-stitched book
of photography the artist herself
bound at a masterclass in Japan.
Hui Hsien gently opens the book
to reveal how the book has been
sewn. “The stitching may look
delicate,” she gestures to the light
blue thread she’s used for binding.
“But there is also strength, as it
is what holds the book together.
The light blue thread was chosen,
because the colour symbolizes the
range of emotions that tie the im-
ages in the book together.”
Myth
Beyond The Weight of Air, visi-
tors to the exhibit get an insight
into Hui Hsien’s ongoing project
titled Myth. Working completely
in a darkroom and by-passing the
use of a camera, the artist experi-
ments with organic matter she
finds during her walks, exposing
the material di-
rectly on photo-
graphic papers
to achieve prints
reminiscent of
d e s e r t d u n e s
and the solar
system. In ad-
dition to photo-
grams, there are
other images in
the series that
are created using other darkroom
processes. “At the heart of my
practice is an attempt to estab-
lish resonance between inner and
external worlds,” Hui Hsien dis-
closes. “For Myth, I am creating an
imaginary world that encourages
people to reflect on larger forces,
such as the mysteries of life or a
higher power.”
“Photography is
used to capture
something visible,
but it is also a
way of pointing
toward something
intangible.”
Pretty much sums up our morning feeling this winter
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16
101 Reykjavík
info@i8.is
t: +354 551 3666
www.i8.is
MAGNÚS INGVAR ÁGÚSTSSON
ÖRN ALEXANDER ÁMUNDASON
ELÍSABET BRYNHILDARDÓTTIR
EMMA HEIÐARSDÓTTIR
UNA BJÖRG MAGNÚSDÓTTIR
SIGURÐUR ATLI SIGURÐSSON
Formation
15 November 2018 - 12 January 2019
VISIT KÓPAVOGUR
CULTURE HOUSES
AND EXPERIENCE
Cycle Music and Art Festival – Inclusive Nation
EXCLUSIVLY
INCLUSIVE
25/10 – 6/1 2019
&
MENNINGARHUSIN.
K O P A V O G U R . I S
Náttúrufræðistofa Kópavogs Natural History Museum of Kópavogur
Bókasafn Kópavogs Kópavogur Public Library
Hamraborg 4–6 Kópavogur Bus 1, 2, 4, 28, 35 & 36
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