As a Bird that Briefly Perches

As a bird that briefly perches is a cinematic diary that weaves together the filmmaker’s sentiments about homeland with reference to the geology of Hong Kong; an analogy between human nature and greenhouse gardening; and her reflections on the choice of living abroad as she studies the everyday life of migrant farmers and their adaptation on foreign soil, reinterpreting agricultural processes and the migration of species. The work explores the implications of rooting, re-rooting and growing as the artist contemplates on the evolving dynamics between land and human.

Director’s statement :

As a bird that briefly perches is born from an exhibition invitation, and later evolved into a film in three parts. Half took place in Hong Kong, while the other half took place elsewhere. It was winter when I was filming as a bird that briefly perches – I remember the empty field, the conversations, the other farmers in the allotment. It is fascinating to see how different people construct their version of a farm – some with flowers, some with Korean chives, some with a chicken coop (as they said, they had too many chickens at home). All of a sudden, I felt a sense of grounding, which is so rare at this time and space.