Migration

10mins / PAL / color / Eng-subtitle

During the residency in UK, Kongkee investigated issues around diversity and migration, specifically locating the migration of people and plants within his own animation-based practice.

Identifying Hong Kong as a city on the move, Kongkee was keen to explore the movement of one-time inhabitants of this exceptional conurbation. Noting that Hong Kong’s unique historical position within the Chinese constellation – one that welcomed immigrants and outsiders – was not dissimilar to Manchester’s experience in the early twentieth century, the artist sought out older Mandarin-speaking residents to talk with them about their experiences of dislocation and renewal.

The discussions, workshops and resulting animations reflect the varied experiences of ex patriots. They also shed light on the plethora of plants regularly used in English gardens that hail from China, which have taken on new significance as a result of their new locale. Looking at the way plants travel – by wind, water or animal intervention, suggested new ways of depicting travel.