Ho Tzu Nyen

Born in 1976, Singapore. Lives and works in Singapore.

Steeped in numerous Eastern and Western cultural references, ranging from art history to theatre and from cinema to music to philosophy, Ho Tzu Nyen’s works blend mythical narratives and historical facts to mobilize different understandings of history, its textual practices and transmission. The central theme of his œuvre is a long-term investigation of the plurality of cultural identities in Southeast Asia, a region so multifaceted in terms of its languages, religions, cultures and influences that it is impossible to reduce it to a simple geographical area or some fundamental historical base. This observation as to the history of this region of the world is reflected in his pieces which weave together different regimes of knowledge, narrative and representation. From documentary research to fantasy, his work combines archival images, animation and film in installations that are often immersive and theatrical.

Ho Tzu Nyen has participated in numerous international exhibitions such as Venice Biennale, Singapore Pavilion (2011), Gwangju Biennale (2018, 2021) and the 14th Sharjah Biennial (2019). His films have also been screened at numerous international film festivals.

Photo : Paris Tavitian