Ming Wong

title: Lerne Deutsch mit Petra von Kant

artist: ming wong

medium: digital video

In this latest work by ming wong, we follow the artist on a
personal, self-designed German language and cultural immersion
programme, as he prepares to relocate to Berlin in August 2007.

Believing that one of the best ways to get insight into a foreign
culture is through the films of that country, the artist has
adopted one of his favourite German films as his guide, „The Bitter
Tears of Petra von Kant" (1972) by Fassbinder, about a successful
but arrogant fashion designer in her mid-thirties, who falls into
despair when she loses the woman she loves.

Putting himself in the mould of German actress Margit Carstensen in
the role of Petra Von Kant - for which she won several awards -
the artist attempts to articulate himself through as wide a range
of emotions as displayed by the actress in the climactic scene from
the film, where our tragic lovesick anti-heroine goes through a
hysterical disintegration.

With this work the artist rehearses going through the motions and
emotions and articulating the words for situations that he believes
he may encounter when he moves to Berlin as a post-35-year-old,
single, gay, ethnic-minority mid-career artist - i.e. feeling
bitter, desperate, or washed up. („Ich bin im Arsch")

With these tools, he will be armed with the right words and modes
of expressions to communicate his feelings effectively to his
potential German compatriots.

About the artist
Ming Wong was born and grew up in Singapore, with a background in
theatre and traditional Chinese art before he relocated to London
where he has been based for the last ten years.
His work explores performance, moving image, language and cultural identity.

CV as below:

Ming Wong is currently based in London, and will move to Berlin in Aug 2007 for 1 year residency at Kunstlerhaus Bethanien.
His work explores performance, moving image, language and cultural identity.

For more info, please refer to www.mingwong.org

Recent Exhibitions include

The Mothership Collective South London Gallery, Aug 2006
A Complete Guide to Rewriting Sparwasser HQ, Berlin March-Apr 2006 Your History 2
Peninsula Singapore History Museum, Feb/Mar 2006
Whodunnit? Toynbee Studios, London June 2005
Homofonia The British Library, London Feb 2005(H)