The Zoo Hypothesis
(Installation)
Hsu Che-Yu
Taipei
Categories
Dates
18:00–20:00
14:00–17:00
14:00–17:00
17:00–21:00
17:00–21:00
11:00–17:00
11:00–17:00
17:00–20:00
17:00–20:00
14:00–20:00
14:00–20:00
14:00–17:00
The Zoo Hypothesis
(Installation)
Hsu Che-Yu
Taipei
Categories
In the video installation created by Hsu Che-Yu for Theater der Welt 2023, a scriptwriter and a performer converse in a taxidermist’s studio. Referring to two historical events during World War II in Taiwan under Japanese colonial rule, they explore the performative relationship between ‘gestures’ and ‘horror’: For the memorial ceremonies at the zoo to commemorate animals that died during military operations, animals such as elephants and orangutans were trained to kneel down as a gesture of mourning. The other reference in their conversation is the execution of dozens of animals at the Yuanshan Zoo in Taiwan in 1944, intended to prevent civilian casualties caused by animals after the US military had bombed the cities. These unfortunate animals were later turned into taxidermy. Drawing on these historical observations, ‘The Zoo Hypothesis’ explores the role of technology in archiving the world and constructing human memory. At its center lie the tense relationships between animals and humans, and between matter and memory.
Free admission.
Lecture performance with Hsu Che-Yu
1. Juli: 17:00
2. Juli: 18:00
3. Juli: 18:00
Tickets are available here!
Photo: ©Hsu Che-Yu
About the Artist(s)
Hsu Che-Yu, based in Taipei and Amsterdam, creates animations and films in which he explores media in relation to individual and collective memories. After completing a Master’s degree at the Graduate Institute of Plastic Arts, National University of Tainan, he has continued his studies at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam since 2022. His work has been shown at the Shanghai Biennale (2018), London Design Biennale (2018), 34th Bienal de São Paulo (2021), VIDEONALE.18 (2021), the New York Film Festival (2020), and the International Film Festival Rotterdam (2018, 2020, 2023).