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Pong ElodieA Swiss artist born in 1966 in Boston, USA. From 1986-1989 she studied sociology and anthropology at the Lausanne University. She creates interactive video installations touching on political and philosophical subjects. In one of her works – After the Empire – she brings up the subject of collective memory and identity. She examines ‘what makes us who we are.’ The parts we play is the central subject of the work, which shows meetings of historic figures from different periods: Karl Marx talks to Marilyn Monroe… and there is a photograph presenting Hiroshima in the background, the whole work has an apocalyptic meaning, although, at the same time the film is full of irony. The artist also deals with the subject of globalisation. In her movies she sometimes uses known scenes from classic cinema works (such as P.S.) or an erotic dance, in order to show patterns of social archetypes and behaviours. The artist seems to play with images of her most favourite characters. She has also organised a unique artistic action – she invited people to tell their secrets in front of a camera. A multi-part movie entitled Secrets was presented in Tokyo in public space. |
Films screeningA presentation of Elodie Pong, a video artist living in Switzerland, during the ArtBook Festival 2011 was consisted of three video movies. Films: After the Empire  Both important moments and historic figures are alive in our collective consciousness, and sometimes even in our subconsciousness. Elodie selected real icons of contemporary history and pop culture. These people recite known speeches and quotations. They conducted dialogues and monologues. In After the Empire Marilyn Monroe meets Marks, Elvis – a Japanese version of Minnie Mouse and Martin Luther King – Frieda, an old woman from Zurich (she may be inspired by the artist’s grandmother?). Playing different parts is the central theme of the movie. Its main problem includes questions concerning our identity: who we really are? Or who do we pretend to be? The title is a reference to falls of empires throughout the ages, which were landmark moments in history. The video is filled with irony. Colourful characters appear against a background of a photograph presenting the destroyed Hiroshima, which stresses the aesthetic and colouristic contrast, but also the scale of issues connected with history… Even a stopped clock is right twice a day  The movie on the economic crisis from the last couple of years includes a discussion of stuffed birds in the background of a landscape and surrounded by the swoosh of wind. The animals move and seem real… The discussion touches upon both deep philosophical issues, such as the crisis creating a new geopolitical image of the world, as well as banal statements concerning lighter wallets and prices of food and the cost of living. The ironic title stresses the ambiguous meaning of the work. Je suis une bombe  In 2006 the artist received the Swiss Art Award and the first prize at the Videoex Film Festival, as well as a scholarship for artists funded by the Canton of Zurich for her movie entitled Je suis une bombe. A panda bear dancing an erotic dance on a pole, a song in the background the text of which is very significant: Tonight I give you… Next the breathless bear takes off its mask and turns out to be …a woman. She recites a monologue, repeats that she is a “bomb,” “sex bomb,” the embodiment of perfection numerous times… It seems as if she was trying to convince herself of this identity. She also talks about looks piercing through her body. Curator: Magda Bińczycka |
10/06/2011
21:00 Films screening
11/06/2011
21:00 Films screening
12/06/2011
21:00 Films screening
14/06/2011
21:00 Films screening
15/06/2011
21:00 Films screening
16/06/2011
21:00 Films screening
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