‘The current crisis has certainly prompted a lot of reflection and revaluation,’ the artist says

Artist Samson Young describes his ‘The Muted Situation’ series as an ongoing exploration of the cancellation of sound and the reduction of tonal volume. Muted Situation No. 5 turns melodies and words into secrets poured into the ear by lowering the volume of the singer’s voice. But, in doing so, does the human voice disappear? Choral singing is a symphony of the crowd. What is lowered or altered is not part of nature— it exists outside what humans usually perceive like so many murmurs, tiny and ever present.This video demands that the viewer listen carefully and concentrate, to let the impressions of the music and words flow. Curator Li Zhenhua spoke to the artists ahead of the program’s launch, and you can watch the film here.

Li Zhenhua: We are a part of this world, yet are separate individuals. How are you and Hong Kong doing?

Samson Young: It’s been a tremendously difficult time for Hong Kong.

LZ: Does the ‘Muted Situation’, or a more relational aesthetic approach to understanding your creations—which involve sociopolitical operations and individual strategies—allow you to find inner pleasure or peace?

SY:  The current crisis has certainly prompted a lot of reflection and revaluation. Personally, part of this reflection involved the processing of a cognitive dissonance.

LZ: The world is still in a state of isolation and there is no telling how much longer it will last. What have you been doing since 2020?

SY:  I have been mostly working alone in the studio. I have also taken some courses online and offline. I have gotten used to setting up shows remotely, but I miss the connection with people.

Samson Young is represented by Edouard Malingue Gallery, Hong Kong and Gisela Capitain, Cologne and Berlin.

More about the film program can be found here.

Look out for He Xiangyu The Swim (2017), publishing April 9th.

Samson Young is represented by Experimenter, Kolkata; Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne and Berlin; and Edouard Malingue Gallery, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Samson Young
Muted Situations #5: Muted Chorus
2016
Instruction score, single channel video with sound
Performed by Hong Kong Voices
9 minutes 7 seconds

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