A media art organisation listed under UNESCO, Videotage has been the long-term collaborator of other media art organisations to promote video art and new media art in Hong Kong and worldwide. Ellen Pau, Chairlady of Videotage, speaks to us about founding the organisation and the local new media art scene.
The Birth of Videotage
From exhibitions, workshops to performances, artist-in-residences and exchange programmes at Cattle Depot Artist Village, shopping malls, schools and museums, Videotage, a leading non-profit organisation in Hong Kong, has been dedicated to the presentation, promotion, production and preservation of video and media art, while serving artists in expanding technological art and cultural network. A significant breadth and depth of achievement, considering the young age of Videotage.
But what really is video art? "The art form that is the convergence of film and technology was coined 'video art'", said Ellen Pau, Chairlady of Videotage. "Peter Greenaway, one of the filmmakers I respect, used to say that film is his favourite media because young people from his generation would make their own films to tell the stories of their time. Despite being born in a generation after him, where video art followed film to become a popular art form, I agree with Greenery, even though video, while similar to film in many ways, is not film."
Yet Ellen's passion for video art coincided with a period of time in Hong Kong when support for video art production was scanty. "There were practically no video cameras or video projectors available for personal rental, and the majority of screening venues were for popular films only, which means you were all on your own in terms of equipment, props and screening location, if you wanted to make video art." Not yielding in to reality, Ellen founded Videotage with three other video art enthusiasts, so that they could share their equipment and book screening locations as an organisation, as well as popularise video art.
Video Art as a Hobby for Senior Citizens
According to Ellen, making video art in this day and age can be easily done anytime, anywhere. "As long as you have a smartphone or a computer, you can make video art. A storyboard is not necessarily a must as it depends on your personal preference."
Believing anyone interested in moving image and sounds can make video art, Ellen also thinks video art creation is a great hobby for senior citizens. "Senior citizens these days are very tech-savvy. They are Skyping their grandchildren or friends living in overseas countries, or they could be creating a video to teach their children and grandchildren how to cook famous cuisines from their hometowns. By the same token, senior citizens can use video as a media tool to convey their artistic ideas too. Also, senior citizens tend to have more patience and a longer attention span to watch through the entire video exhibition or installation lasting 20 to 30 minutes. With richer life experiences, senior citizens can better appreciate the video installations and understand the intentions of media artists."
Does that mean picking up a hobby in video art creation can be easily done then? Pretty much yes, according to Ellen. "Hardware is not as important as a good idea or concept. You may experiment camera movement by seeing your smartphone or video camera as a Chinese calligraphy brush, and create your own piece of video art. For inspiration on the concept, you can take reference from the great masters – watch a film, read a book, or visit exhibitions."
If you, too, are interested in creating your works of video art in your own unique style, video letter (video correspondence) is a good way to start. Start experimenting with your smartphone or video camera and video editing apps today, and you're off to a good start! But with a good concept or theme being paramount to the creation of a wonderful video art piece, by all means visit the Videotage Media Art Collection, home to an extensive archive of video and media art of Hong Kong, and open to the public for research and referencing purposes (http://videotage.org.hk). Here's to discovering a new hobby to enrich your retirement life.
Special Thanks:
Ellen Pau, Chairlady of Videotage