Working in moving image, Fang Lu (born 1981) is inspired by popular culture and daily life experience. Her work reveals a deep analysis of political, societal and gender constructs, while exploring the multiple relationships between life and spectacle.

Asia Art Archive’s Fiona He spoke with artist Fang Lu about her unique style of camera direction, her interest in food as an artistic medium, and the reality of being a female artist in China today.

Jane DeBevoise (JD): Today we’re very happy to welcome Fang Lu, an artist now based in Beijing, and Herb Tam, a curator and Director of Exhibitions at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). Herb has worked at MOCA for three and a half years and before that at Exit Art for four years. Herb, we are delighted that you will be moderating tonight’s talk…

Some of Fang Lu’s narrative video artworks seek out possibilities from within the irrational. In her works over the past two years, such irrational settings are often created through the actions of people and food. Her earlier works focused more on popular contemporary mediums and the experience of the body in action. Even in the least narrative of her works (such as My Classmate and Skin), we can see the body performing a lot or a little in front of the camera.