Meet Abigail He | filmmaking & moving image artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abigail He and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abigail, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think now when I look back, I can see a clear path of my career as a filmmaker and moving image artist. It’s not a straight line, more like a detour, which I think is a lot more interesting. It’s hard to pinpoint why I would make certain decisions at certain points of my career, but ultimately it is the urge for new possibilities in film that motivates me to pursue a career as a filmmaker. I began as a traditional narrative filmmaker and I wrote and directed my own scripts. For each project, I always wanted to try new things, such as genre, cinematic style, etc. Now my moving image work has moved into a more experimental direction, I continue to experiment with different approaches and new mediums to test limits and push boundaries. So I think unconsciously I tend to avoid repeating what has been done in my art-making.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a moving image artist, I think it’s my interest in conceptual art and the way I approach my work that defines the uniqueness of my work. Instead of focusing on visuals, I’m more interested in the transition between mediums, and how ideas are presented through visual and physical form. So my recent moving image work is quite conceptual and multimedia, which sets me apart from my contemporaries.

I’m always excited about my upcoming projects. I work in series-based so I do have a motif or theme as the foundation. But I don’t look for new ideas for a new project. Instead, the new idea comes to me when the previous project is close to being finished.

As I mentioned, my creative path is not a straight line. I started as a traditional narrative filmmaker who wrote and directed her own scripts. I did enjoy making narrative films, but more and more as I was exposed to other fields outside cinema, like psychology, and philosophy, I realized there are a lot more possibilities in alternative, experimental cinema for me to explore. That was when I moved away from narrative filmmaking and recentered on experimental moving image making. Although both narrative and experimental cinema deal with film, they do require different mindsets. I would say it’s quite a long process to switch paths but if you are passionate about what you are doing, you will enjoy each step of the changes. Plus I was pretty much a self-taught filmmaker when I started making narrative films, so switching to a new direction wasn’t a hard decision to make.

Having passion and curiosity for your field is crucial to all artists. Keep your eyes and ears open but also hold on to your discipline.

I hope my work can offer a new perspective to people on moving image art. There are endless possibilities in this unique medium that can be explored. I look forward to bringing new visions to show people how much more the moving image medium can offer.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m from New York City so I definitely would recommend people to check out Anthology Film Archive, Microscope Gallery, and Millennium Filmworshop if they are interested in experimental cinema. If you are into indie films, Metrograph and Roxy Theater are highly recommended. The film programs from Film Forum, Japan Society and IFC are also worth your attention. Apart from the well-known museums like MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum, don’t forget to visit the galleries in Chelsea and uptown if you are an art lover.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think I owe credit to people who generously introduced me to new things. It was through them that I was able to constantly explore and experiment with new possibilities in my career. I love a quote from the writer Gertrude Stein, “You need to know who you should be influenced by.” It applies to all artists.

Website: https://abiailhe.wixsite.com/voidcenter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abigail.he.9