The man who attends to the times
This is a series of 29 artist books. The books are composed with two timelines:
1971-2000: Untracing the story behind my father’s workplace -as 29-year caretaker of the Government Supplies Department (the predecessor of Oil Street Art Space). Searching through interviewing ex-colleagues and site visit, I recollect the history of this colonial government warehouse, which was virtually undocumented previously. The uncover of the meaning of the symbol found on government supplies connect the whole story.
2018 – 2046: I follow in my father’s footsteps, based on the tales of his daily commute. I compose the remainder of the book with documentation of the journey, using photo stickers representing that year observation and update one book annually. The ceremonial act of producing annual records creates a visual history of the city since the handover. The insertion of such personal documents gives a reinterpretation of the two timelines of history. Photography is not just an image here, it is more about an action; whereas the unique-edition book represents the monument of a father and a caretaker.
Artist Bio.
Yim Sui Fong’s practice responds to doubts and imaginations of social phenomena, including how personal identity, Her work explores various kinds of uneasiness people face in society and examines the relationship between individuality and collectiveness. Through artistic actions, gathering and workshops, she provides a platform to connect people's perceptions, while refracting the imagination on social phenomena. The works incorporate a field research, interviews, memories of sounds and chance encounters. A combination of images, text, performance and video installations deliver an audio-visual narrative suspended between fiction and reality.
Yim Sui Fong graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA). She is the co-founder of the artist-run organisation Rooftop Institute and member of Hong Kong artist collective, L sub. Yim was awarded the WMA Masters Award in 2018. Recent exhibition and projects includes: Landskrona Foto Festival’ (2020, Sweden), L sub ‘Still Life Objects’ Hong Kong House exhibition and programme at Echigo-Tsumari in Japan in 2020. Yim currently lives and works in Hong Kong.
