Fiona Tan: Mountains and Molehills – An Engaging Film & Video Art Exhibition at Eye Filmmuseum

This exhibition at Eye Filmmuseum presents a selection of works by Fiona Tan, exploring recurring themes of the passing of time and the landscape as a mental space. Visitors can expect video and film installations that delve into memory, history, globalization, and the critical yet poetic examination of perception and representation.

The exhibition 'Mountains and Molehills' at Eye Filmmuseum presents a comprehensive journey through a selection of works by Fiona Tan, an artist celebrated for her video and film installations. Her oeuvre consistently delves into profound themes such as the passing of time and the multifaceted role of the landscape as a mental and emotional space. Tan's artistic practice critically explores memory, history, globalization, and the intrinsic role that images play in shaping our understanding of the world. Key video installations featured include *Gray Glass* (2020), *Inventory* (2012), and the newly commissioned *Footsteps* (2022), which collectively examine the intricate connections between landscape, environment, humankind, and the dynamic relationships between image, maker, and viewer. For Tan, time is not merely a linear progression but a tangible medium and a vital vehicle in her creative process, which she meticulously studies, shapes, and integrates into her moving and still images. Her distinctive gaze, both critical and poetic, scrutinizes various forms of perception and representation, prompting questions about how one can create an authentic or honest portrait of an individual, a community, a place, or a specific historical period. A significant focus is placed on *Footsteps*, her latest work, which intertwines personal narratives with broader global contexts by utilizing forgotten Dutch silent film footage from Eye's collection. This archival material, depicting early 20th-century Dutch life and labor, is powerfully juxtaposed with excerpts from letters Tan received from her father, creating a dialogue between intimate reflections and pivotal world events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Tiananmen Square protests.