Zoë Gray focuses on the aspect of play in Thao Nguyen Phan’s work and draws upon her essay in the accompanying catalogue:
“All play means something,” declared Johan Huizinga in the opening chapter of Homo ludens. Written in 1938, when much of the world was focused on seemingly more serious matters than playing, Huizinga insisted: “Play cannot be denied. You can deny, if you like, nearly all abstractions: justice, beauty, truth, goodness, mind, God. You can deny seriousness, but not play.” Play takes centre-stage in the very serious work of Thao Nguyen Phan. Her films and watercolours exhibit a childlike sense of wonder while tackling complex questions such as ecology, colonialism and political amnesia.
SAT 14.03.2020, 15:30
Free with exhibition entry
On registration