Valérie Wolf Gang, video installation ZOO: Human Edition is a video installation which shows human species as a central entity through the reverse role. The video installation consists of six screens that are positioned in the centre of the gallery space with their backs facing each other thus forming a circle around which the viewers
Valérie Wolf Gang, video installation
ZOO: Human Edition is a video installation which shows human species as a central entity through the reverse role. The video installation consists of six screens that are positioned in the centre of the gallery space with their backs facing each other thus forming a circle around which the viewers can walk and watch six different clips. Wire fence is built around the screens, which therefore have to be looked at through the fence. Each video was filmed in one piece in real time with a static camera and without editing, and it symbolically indicates the space or “the cage” in which the human subject is located. In front of each video on the fence there is a plate with a photograph of the specimen in the video, and a short text providing some basic information: its race, place of origin, age, weight and other characteristics – just like in a real zoo.
The author of the video installation poses a series questions to the public: What is the difference between man and animal, Have we already outgrown stereotypes and racial prejudices, and What does a wire fence, through which we look at the videos (or in fact ourselves), actually symbolize. Undoubtedly, one of the meanings of the fence is the invisible boundary which we create ourselves. We thus artificially establish distance from a specific race, culture, country and the neighbors, and place ourselves in the position of a superior man – which is similar to our stance towards animals. The fence also represents us being trapped in the system that we have created – like the artist has also created this installation. The fence can also be our mind – we can look through the wire and see far or we can build it around us and hide. It is of major importance for the the viewer to look at this video installation with an open mind and create their own story that inspires them while watching.
Multimedia artist Valérie Wolf Gang, born on 4 December 1990, works in the field of video and contemporary art practices. She attended Secondary school of Design and Photography in Ljubljana and later graduated from the School of Arts University of Nova Gorica with the thesis “Director’s role in video installation” to acquire the BA title of “Digital arts and practices”. She also complemented her knowledge and practice at FAMU Film Academy, Prague. She works frequently with a variety of media and creates multimedia installations that have been exhibited in various galleries (Miklova Hiša Gallery, Central Station Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art, Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore, Incubator Gallery Zagreb …), her videos have been screened at various festivals (Motovun Festival, IRFFI Estonia, Independent Film Festival, DigitalBigScreen…) and cinemas (Filmcasino Vienna, Pančevo Serbia, Kinodvor, Kinoteka, Kiberpipa…). She has been awarded the official status of Independent Cultural Worker, assigned by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia. Currently, she is actively involved in a variety of contemporary art and production areas and artist residences, and continues her studies to acquire the Master’s degree of Media Arts and Practices in the field of contemporary art.
