Persistent Visions

Initially I researched the Moving Image Archives of the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum (Bristol) for this 3-screen installation work. The work features edited fragments of the histories encapsulated within the archives from the 1930’s to 1970’s and covering vast regions, from Malaysia to Kenya and The Suez Canal to Hong Kong.

'Persistent Visions' sets itself up against current modes of archival usage by providing an encounter between the audience and the edited archival image to produce an interpretive space within which meaning has not yet been 'fixed’. In this way, it works with and extends the practices of other early ethnographic filmmakers such as Flaherty.

In 'Persistent Visions' I used ‘amateur’ film footage taken by individuals stationed in the former British Colonies. This less edited material had no explicit over-arching authoritative story lines, no specific knowledge of time, place or the filmmaker’s intention. As such, the archival ‘evidence’ is left in a liminal state of indeterminacy. It is this indeterminacy that enables the audience to be more than just spectator, observer, and receiver of a past, but an active agent in meaning construction.

Erika Tan

Erika Tan is a London based artist and curator whose work has evolved from an interest in anthropology and the moving image. Her work is often informed by specific cultural, geographical or physical contexts; exploring different media to create situations that excite, provoke, question, confront and invite comments from an audience. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally including EAST International 2000 at Norwich Gallery, included in "Cities on the Move" at The Hayward Gallery, and "Incommunicado" a Hayward Touring exhibition. She has completed a Film & Video Umbrella Commission (PIDGIN: interrupted Transmission), permanent work for East England Arts (Utopic Blurr), and a permanent work for the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail (In Situ). Recent projects include a residency commission with Turner Contemporary, Margate, a BBC Radio London Residency, a video commission with Picture This, Bristol, and an Artists Links Shanghai Residency, China. Erika is also making new work for Singapore’s first International Biennale (2006).

As an extension to her practice, Erika has also jointly curated and project managed art projects in association with Above:Below such as: The ICA in China; Imaginaria Digital Art Prize '99; HUB @The RiCHMiX, an urban regeneration project; Souvenirs, interventionist project in Museum Street, London. Erika has also had a long-standing interest and engagement with the Chinese Arts sector in Britain. Working as a Chinese Arts Worker and freelance research assistant/curator she has contributed to Half the Sky: Chinese Women in London, Museum of London, 1997. In Focus: Film and Video from the Chinese Diaspora: Britain and Another Province, Waterman Art Center, London, 1997. She is currently involved in the development of CAS, an East Asian Art Space within the center of London.

Erika studied Social Anthropology and Archaeology at Kings College, Cambridge; Film Directing at The Beijing Film Academy, followed by an M.A in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins School of Art, London. She is currently undertaking PhD Research within T.R.A.I.N (Transnational Art Identity and Nation), University of the Arts, London. Awards have included: The Arts Council Black Arts Video Award, 1993. Firstbase, ACAVA Studio Award, 1995. Digital Arts Fellowship, The Arts Foundation, 1998. British Council Travel Grant to Japan, Arts Council Connections Fund to Singapore, 99/2000. ACME Live Work Studio Award, London, 2001-2004. Artists Links British Council/Arts Council Residency in China Award.