Monday 1/7/2024

Film still, Lee Tzu Tung ‘Writing the Time Lag’ (2014–ongoing), courtesy of the artist.

Join Asymmetry at 2pm on Saturday 6 July for ‘A Diachronic Record’, a screening, discussion and vitrine presentation centred on Writing the Time Lag (2014–ongoing) by Lee Tzu Tung and curated by Rachel Be-Yun Wang. This event is part of the project outcome of Rachel Be-Yun Wang’s Asymmetry Curatorial Research Fellowship at Chisenhale Gallery. With support by CREAM.

‘A Diachronic Record’ is a public programme centred on the film Writing the Time Lag (2014–ongoing), an experimental documentary by Taiwanese artist and director Lee Tzu Tung. Initiated in 2014, Writing the Time Lag is informed by an ethnographic approach to collaborative and participatory filmmaking, where activist voices and political narratives give form to what the artist calls a ‘microcosm of Taiwan’s complex identity dynamics’. Navigating indigenous grassroots activism, the film questions how one makes sense of national identity, and provides a glimpse into the colonial dynamics of a transnational public sphere. In addition to their political involvement, Tzu Tung’s approach to documentary is also informed by a self-reflexive editing approach. Since starting filming, they have continually re-edited the documentary, while incorporating the post-production process into the film footage itself. This iterative process reveals how one’s perspective changes through time, and foregrounds a multi-layered and diachronic approach to documenting the subjectively political and historically personal.

Image courtesy of Lee Tzu Tung.

Following an afternoon screening of Tzu Tung’s film, a roundtable discussion will be held with the artist who will be present in-person. Moderated by Chisenhale Gallery’s Asymmetry Curatorial Research Fellow, Rachel Be-Yun Wang, the group will discuss the process of creating the film, its political life, where it stands today, and broader issues around the documentation of time. Attendees are encouraged to bring their perspectives and participate, and due to the nature of the discussion limited seats will be available.

Portrait photo of Rachel Be-Yun Wang
Image courtesy of Rachel Be-Yun Wang

‘A Diachronic Record’ is curated in conjunction with Rachel Be-Yun Wang’s Curatorial Research Fellowship at Chisenhale Gallery. Rachel is currently researching the documentation of time-based media within commissioning, looking to understand how—and what—we document in the active processes of commissioning and producing new artistic work, while interrogating how we produce and enact artistic labour with historicity and posterity in mind. 

Support to Lee Tzu-Tung on the occasion of this project is provided by the National Culture and Arts Foundation. This event will also include a preview of related research materials on display as a vitrine presentation in Asymmetry HQ’s programme space, which will be on view to the public until 27 September 2024.  

This event is free and open to the public. Book tickets here or for further information, please contact info@asymmetryart.org.  

A DIACHRONIC RECORD

Saturday 6 July, 2-4.30pm at Asymmetry HQ – 102a Albion Drive, London E8 4LY