Published on：2020-10-16Views：53
Artwork Analysis
This is part of "The Phantom of History series" completed by Yao Jui-Chung in 2007. The series primarily explores Taiwan's history and culture while using video to critique the political system of the past. "The Phantom of History" was filmed at the "Culture Resort of the Chiang's " which brings together numerous Chiang Kai-shek statues that were abandoned after martial law was lifted. Yao Jui-Chung dressed up as Chiang Kai-shek and goose-stepped in the park strewn with "statues of himself."
The image of this video flickers like an 8 mm film, exuding an aura of colorful mottles. Yet all the viewers see is a park with no traces of humans. As the dictator played by Yao Jui-Chung goose-steps in the jungle of statues, one can hear the chirping birds and buzzing insects. Yao Jui-Chung is highly skilled in bringing viewers a visual impact with sui generis video. Absurd images and visual effects as erstwhile as something straight out of an old TV set are what catch our attention about this work.
Yao Jui-Chung said, "Faced by a destiny of uncertainty, the giant furnace that is our nation is crowded with ghosts of tyrants, power grabbers, cynics, and hypocrites. But the real devil comes from within, the 'inner demon' that resides within every one of us. It is 'The Phantom of History' that we need to face and fight." What the artist intends to get across through the video is more than a critique of culture, social context and political systems, but a further attempt at prompting a reflection on the value and narratives of Taiwan's culture itself.
The image of this video flickers like an 8 mm film, exuding an aura of colorful mottles. Yet all the viewers see is a park with no traces of humans. As the dictator played by Yao Jui-Chung goose-steps in the jungle of statues, one can hear the chirping birds and buzzing insects. Yao Jui-Chung is highly skilled in bringing viewers a visual impact with sui generis video. Absurd images and visual effects as erstwhile as something straight out of an old TV set are what catch our attention about this work.
Yao Jui-Chung said, "Faced by a destiny of uncertainty, the giant furnace that is our nation is crowded with ghosts of tyrants, power grabbers, cynics, and hypocrites. But the real devil comes from within, the 'inner demon' that resides within every one of us. It is 'The Phantom of History' that we need to face and fight." What the artist intends to get across through the video is more than a critique of culture, social context and political systems, but a further attempt at prompting a reflection on the value and narratives of Taiwan's culture itself.
Artist Profile
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