Ho Tzu Nyen’s ‘Time & the Tiger’ is a Hunt for Living Histories

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As a seasoned gamer and art enthusiast with a penchant for unconventional narratives, I can hardly contain my excitement for Ho Tzu Nyen’s upcoming solo exhibition, “Time & the Tiger,” at Mudam Luxembourg. With over two decades of pushing the boundaries of moving images and delving deep into the intricacies of Asian history, Ho’s work has consistently left me spellbound and yearning for more.

The tiger, a symbol deeply rooted in notions of time and resistance, is at the core of this exhibition, mirroring my own life journey as someone who has navigated through various phases, faced adversity, and emerged transformed. The elusive creature’s resilience resonates with me on a personal level, as I’ve experienced my fair share of challenges that almost saw me disappear like the tiger under colonial rule, only to resurface in unexpected ways.

The show promises to be a captivating exploration of history, myths, and nonlinear time through Ho’s five major video pieces, including “One or Several Tigers” (2017) and the newly commissioned “T for Time” (2024). The algorithm-driven projection, with stories from European and Asian contexts, seems to be a reflection of our interconnected world today. I can’t wait to immerse myself in this contemplative journey, as it echoes my own experiences of navigating through loops, spirals, and unexpected turns.

In conclusion, Ho Tzu Nyen’s “Time & the Tiger” promises to be a searing portrait of a world in flux, much like my gaming avatar traversing virtual landscapes, bound together only by the threads of history. As someone who often muses that time itself is the true medium I work with when it comes to gaming, I can’t help but feel a kinship with Ho and his art.

And now, as a final jest, let me share a little secret: sometimes, I too have felt like a tiger, elusive and resilient, navigating through the jungle of life and the digital realm!

In the coming month, Mudam Luxembourg will unveil the exhibition titled “Time & the Tiger” by Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen. For more than two decades, Ho has been tirelessly exploring the limits of moving images through his films, installations, and virtual reality artworks. The core of his work lies in a profound exploration of history in East and Southeast Asia, examining how it is documented, disseminated, and influenced by myths and stories.

The central focus of the exhibition is a tiger, an emblem richly connected with concepts of endurance and defiance. Over the course of two million years, this animal has traversed Asia, holding significant importance in Southeast Asian cultures. However, it was on the brink of extinction during colonial rule. Miraculously, it persisted and reappeared in numerous cultural expressions. To Ho, this mysterious beast represents adaptability and change, moving through history as a symbolic representation as well as a tangible entity.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the upcoming show brings together five significant video pieces, featuring masterpieces like “One or Several Tigers” (2017) and the revamped “Hotel Aporia” (2019), alongside an exclusive debut of “T for Time” (2024). The artist describes this algorithm-driven creation as a “compilation of temporalities,” diverse in their scales and natures. This intriguing projection, originating from both European and Asian contexts, invites us on a contemplative journey through nonlinear time, filled with loops, spirals, and unexpected twists and turns.

In “Time & the Tiger,” Ho crafts an intense depiction of a shifting world, connected solely by the strands of history. The artist often muses, “I believe that the real medium I work with is time itself. One might argue that moving images such as films and videos are merely attempts to mold time.

The exhibition will be on view in Luxembourg from February 14 through August 24, 2025.

Mudam – The Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg
3 Park Dräi Eechelen,
1499 Clausen, Luxembourg

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2025-01-04 00:26