In this talk artist Sung Tieu will dive more generally into her interests surrounding astrology, institutionalised superstition, their socio-political resonance and potential for exploitation. The presentation will focus on one of her most recent installations What is your xy? at Kunstverein Hannover (2021) and will draw connections to previous research interests, such as psychological and sonic warfare.

Working across media, Sung Tieu’s exhibitions meld sculpture, drawing, text, sound and video to investigate the evolving structures and mechanisms of control. Her practice raises questions around equality, belonging and individual sovereignty – often revealing the psychological effects of ideological systems and the politics they engender. Extensive research is set in contrast with an autobiographical query which allows Tieu to simultaneously address the deeply personal as well as the institutionalized structures that frame such individual expression and agency. 

Image:
Sung Tieu
Sung Mother
Natal Chart 
4 Dec 1964, Fri 
17:00 USZ6 - 07:00 
Hai Duong, Vietnam 
20°N56’ 106°E19’ 
Geocentric 
Tropical 
Porphyry 
True Node 

to 

Border Crossing
27 Jun 1992, Sat 
12:00 CEDT- 2:00 
51°N03’ 013°E44’ 
Geocentric 
Tropical 
Porphyry 
True Node, 2021

silkscreen on stainless steel mirror, Goldman Sans, stainless steel
ø: 250 x 1.2 cm (98 3/8 x 1/2 inches)

© Sung Tieu
Courtesy of the artist, Emalin, London and Sfeir-Semler, Beirut/Hamburg
Photography: Hans-Georg Gaul