Artist Statement
‘By its nature, the metropolis provides what otherwise could be given only by traveling; namely, the strange.’
Jane Jacobs: The Death and Life of Great American Cities
My filmmaking practice is rooted in an exploration of urban spaces, with a focus on the dynamic interplay between the built and natural environments. Currently based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I have been particularly drawn to the city's vast network of alleyways—known locally as hems—which form the majority of the urban landscape. The city's urban forms captivate me because they reveal the intricate relationship between community and family, as these elements are deeply embedded throughout the city’s fabric. Observing the built environment allows me to understand how communities operate, exposing the delicate balance between domestic life, work, and play.
My current body of work extends this exploration to the Te Canal and its surroundings, enabling me to delve into the complex relations between man-made infrastructure and natural ecosystems. Through this work, I aim to demonstrate how these environments intersect and evolve.
I approach filmmaking as a way of constructing lenses that transform personal encounters into visual narratives. Rather than focusing on objects, I use abstraction to emphasize the continual flow of relations between spaces and the events that unfold within them. Post-production becomes a tool to move beyond what is captured by the camera, revealing what lies beneath the surface. Using densely layered images, I rely on color, pattern, and movement to create a sense of recognition, allowing narratives to unfold through durational, single-shot sequences. In this way, the environments themselves begin to speak, independent of the filmmaking process. I integrate moving images, still photography, and augmented reality as interconnected tools that reconstitute the urban experience, offering new ways of seeing familiar spaces.
My fascination with the culture of cities extends beyond a simple interest in urban life. I am particularly interested in how the built environment serves as a medium that reflects and generates the culture of place. To me, the built environment is a living entity, an alternative voice that deciphers the city’s complexities, in contrast to purely human interpretations.
My work has been exhibited at various venues and festivals worldwide, and some pieces have been included in moving image databases and archives. I am actively involved in the River Cities Network and the Planetary Civics Initiative, as well as RMIT’s innovation projects. Additionally, I supervise HDR candidates in Architecture and Urbanism, as well as within the Design School, where my practice informs and enriches the research of my students.