The Mirror Stage

A shed of light that comes through the camera obscura has lightened up the darkest corner, this shed of light also created an illusion for one to believe in. Marshall McLuhan once said, 'the technology of yesterday becomes the artform of today'. An archetype of contemporary photography and video art, the first camera obscura was built by an Arab scientist in the 10th century since then it has brought to our attention on how the world is perceived. As an optical device, camera obscura is a box or a room with a hold on one side; when external light passes through the hole, an image will be reproduced upside-down but with colour and perspective preserved. Such fundamental nature of camera obscura invigorates the belief of 'seeing is believing', and this, for over the centuries, backing artists to examine and pursuit for a vision condition that decentres and re-centres images and its relationship with the viewers. For the matter of vision is understood as a visual system representing the contemporary world, implications brought by the camera obscura becomes an important mode of perspective system in western art history helping artists to approach the subject matter, language and ideology behind.

Bearing this in mind, The Mirror Stage, intends to bring audiences to go through a journey of visuality of aesthetic experience and viewers' bodily experience of this 'finiteness' visible world. In spite of this age of high technology, the artist Fiona Lee is fascinated by camera obscura with its simply array of mirror, lens and daylight to create an incredible yet intimate visual experience; meanwhile, Silas Fong, sets a theatrical experience in his work which plays with spatial relationship of viewers and visual reality, through which to reiterate his concern of inter-human relationships in contemporary times. Inspired by photographic and video works of Silas Fong and Fiona Lee, The Mirror Stage includes a workshop — Camera Action to explore camera obsucra to contemporary video art, as well as an exhibition of art works by Fong and Lee.

Camera Action

'The technology of yesterday becomes the artform of today' Marshall McLuhan, 1911 — 1980

This workshop will combine an early prototype of photography, camera obscura, photography and video camera to the making of video art. You will get to know theories and to learn how to appreciate video art. Hands-on activities on skills of video art and presentation will also be taught in this workshop.

Workshop	Theme
22.11.2009	Camera Obscura, what is it? DIY of your very own camera obscura
29.11.2009	From stop motion to alternative art making with video camera
6.12.2009	Beyond the camera and computational cinema
13.12.2009	Time and Space: on editing and installing video art

Artists: Silas Fong, Fiona Lee
            (in Cantonese)
Date: 22.11 — 13.12.2009
         (Sundays, 4 sessions)
Time: 2:00 — 5:00pm
Venue: 4/F Multi-purpose Room
No. of participants: 10 persons
Target: Age 18 or above
Fee: $300 / 270 / 150*
Material fee: $300 (vary basing on different
                     needs of participants)
Deadline of application: 3.11.2009

The Mirror Stage — Works of Silas Fong and Fiona Lee

An exhibition showcases video and photographic works of Silas Fong and Fiona Lee.

Date: 2.12.2009 — 31.1.2010 (except Tuesdays)
Time: 10:00am — 9:00pm
Venue: 5/F Lobby (various spots)
Free admission

CJ CGV Selection of Art Videos by 8 Korean Artists

Screening of 10 art videos by 8 Korean contemporary artists, whose works are selected in a video art project by the Korean organization, CJ CGV and Laurence Jeoffrey. Artists include are: Chang Gie-hee, Han Kye-ryoon, Lee Jong-suk, Lee Yong-beak, Mioon, Park June-bum, Roh Hym-tark and Ryu Ho-yeol.

Date: 1 — 30.11.2009 (except Tuesdays)
Time: 5:00 — 9:00pm (run time: 1 hour approx)
Venue: 5/F Lobby
Free admission

Dorkbot:VAC

Dorkbot:VAC is a series of new media programme launched since June 2009. Over the summer, VAC collaborated with the acclaimed media artist, Keith Lam, for a series of creative media art workshops with specific focus on circuit bending for the creation of innovative and inspiring electronic art works. Also, one would not forget the spectacular debut live performance by the dimension+, which took place at the outdoor area of the Museum of Teaware in the Hong Kong Park in a scorching September evening. It was an impeccable performance of light, minimal and experimental sound with digital videos that brought audiences to go through a transient optical-sensory journey of the city's past and present.

To continue our vision of providing an alternative platform for the exchange of new media art and its lovers, a workshop on wearable art will be organized in November 2009. This is an opportunity for those who are tempted to do something creative, interactive, fashionable, and to walkout from art studio to explore the city through New Media Art.

From Body to Environment: Urban Attack

This workshop extends the idea of using the body to communicate with the urban/public space. Starting from wearable technology, participants will transform their bodies as a medium and to communicate with other mediums, eg. people around you, objects and environments. Merging techniques on media presentation into the little piece of wearable technology that you create and carry around with, you will instantly engage in an interactive performance of urban space. Let's armed ourselves with wearable technology and march in the city, we are going to hack the city and, hack the world!

This workshop is a combo of software, ardunio and most importantly, 'your creativity', and is suitable for people with knowledge of computer and electronics.

Artist: Keith Lam (in Cantonese)
Date: 18.11 — 2.12.2009
          (Wednesdays, 4 sessions)
Time: 6:00 — 9:00pm
Venue: 4/F Multi-purpose Room
Target : Age 18 or above
No. of Participants: 8 persons
Fee: $300 / 270 / 150*
Material fee: $300 (vary basing on different
                    needs of participants)
Deadline of Application: 3.11.2009