Meet Xiao Zhang | Filmmaker

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

Hi Xiao, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
As a filmmaker who works with time-based medium, I always find myself fascinated by paintings and photography works that welcome an observational act. These still images provide a room for viewers to decide the time they will be engaged where it is different viewing experience comparing with sitting in the theater. What’s more, The material consideration like brushes in painting, papers on photography significantly impacts my film practice. It opens my mind to think of materiality of cinema, especially whenI work with 16mm film celluloid. Can my camera be a brush? Do I need a camera to make a film? How can I present a truth outside of the 4:3 frame?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My artistic practice centers on creating diary essay documentaries, video art, and photography, exploring themes of personal family history, concealed memories, and cultural diaspora as an Asian queer individual pursuing education far from home.

After completing my undergraduate studies in industrial film production, I redirected my focus towards investigating the materiality of moving images. This shift led me to experiment with techniques such as cyanotype printing and hand-developing film. Through this exploration, I discovered the profound impact that the physical qualities of materials can have on the presentation of imagery and the narration of stories. This hands-on, intimate approach not only deepened my connection to the artistic process but also highlighted the significance of material performance in conveying the fluidity of reality within the context of my films.

The primary challenge in my filmmaking journey has been navigating the continuous cycle of self-examination and self-doubt inherent in the trial and error process. Despite the deeply personal nature of my stories, my goal is to establish an authentic connection with my audience, transforming the act of viewing into a collective experience. I am still leaning from it while I am making works.

Recently, I am trying to bring more interdisplinary elements into my filmmaking practice. In my multidimensional 16mm projector installation work, “Untitled Test,” I want to merge tactility and intangibility through the interplay of light, space, and motion. Using 16mm film projections and optical sculptural mechanisms embedded in ready-made objects, the installation delves into the sensorial echoes of off-screen experiences, emphasizing the interplay between the ephemeral and the everlasting. Viewers are invited to explore the dichotomy between encountered chance and obscured reality, encouraging reflection on the lingering essence of visual and sensory perceptions. My recent film, “A Throwing Forth” (2023), serves as a disjointed visual record of my family photos and memories from China, my homeland, to Los Angeles. Set in my bedroom, the film weaves moments of stillness with the relentless progression of time. The repetitive action of the windows opening and the glazing blinds illustrates the degree of translucent shift and opaqueness, symbolizing the fluctuating nature of memory and the vividness of the present when sunlight hits them at a specific angle.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would love to take her to the beach, and then go to The Ruby Fruit bar for a drink. If we have energy, we definetely will check out if there is a show or screening in 2220 Arts+Archives during the time she stays.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been really lucky to have so many people support me and believe in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. As a first generation who works with film, I would firstly dedicate my shoutout to my parent for their unconditional love n my life. Even though sometime they don’t quite understand what I am working on, but they always respect my choice and believe in me. Also, I would love to thank my girlfriend Seokyoung Yang who is also a filmmaker, curator. Thank you so much for your company in LA and I learned a lot for her as a human being.

Website: https://xiao–zhang.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheungshay/