Artist Jason Phu premieres Analects of Kung Phu at ACMI

Martial arts meets moving image: Artist Jason Phu premieres Analects of Kung Phu at ACMI

ACMI is thrilled to premiere Analects of Kung Phu – Book 1, The 69 Dialogues between the Lamp and the Shadow, the new action-packed work of Melbourne-based visual artist, and 2021 recipient of the Mordant Family Moving Image Commission for young Australian artists, Jason Phu.

Opening on 2 December, the three-channel video work presents a survival guide for contemporary life – through the lens of popular martial arts films.

Look out for breakneck stunts and wise sayings from film and TV shows like Drunken Master (1978) starring Jackie Chan, and Avatar the Last Airbender (2005). Taught by action stars but inspired by classic Chinese texts like Lao Zi’s Dao De Jing, Phu questions whether the life lessons these shows contain are genuinely useful.

Now in its second year, the Mordant Family Moving Image Commission for young Australian artists was established in partnership with Catriona Mordant AM and Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO, the City of Melbourne and John Allsopp from Web Directions - and extends the impact of ACMI’s vibrant commissioning programs that have seen 20 artists receive commissions worth more than $1 million over the past three years.

The commission supports artists under 35 to create moving image works that reference contemporary social, cultural or political issues with energy and originality. It will see three artists selected over three years, each receiving $80,000, with the commission worth $240,000 in total.

Artist, Jason Phu said: “It’s been amazing to have been awarded the Mordant Family Moving Image Commission for young Australian artists. It has afforded me the time, space and expertise to complete this work and further my development into the realm of the moving image.”

ACMI Director and CEO Katrina Sedgwick OAM said: “We’re delighted to continue our strong partnership with Catriona Mordant AM and Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO and the City of Melbourne. Phu’s work challenges us to think deeply about life through the playful lens of popular martial arts films – bringing some high-spirited action to ACMI this summer.”

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp said: “Melbourne’s arts and culture scene is playing a huge role in reigniting our city, and I’m delighted to see creative and unique projects like Jason Phu’s work getting the air time they deserve. We’re proud to support talented local artists through ACMI, and I encourage all city visitors to make a trip to the centre and celebrate Melbourne’s vibrant creative community.”

Simon Mordant AO said: “Catriona and I are thrilled to support young Australian artists as the industry emerges from a most difficult time. We are delighted that Jason’s latest work will be on display for a wide audience to experience in-person at ACMI, and to see Jason further develop and build on his practice.”

Further to the exhibition itself, ACMI is delighted to present two in-conversation talks with Jason Phu to further unpack his latest work, creative process, and favourite martial arts films.

The first talk will take place on 4 December with editor Conor Bateman and curator Chelsey O’Brien, with the second talk on 18 January forming part of ACMI’s ART + FILM series, featuring an in-depth conversation between Jason Phu and artist Reko Rennie discussing their favourite martial arts and blaxploitation films.

Jason Phu: Analects of Kung Phu – Book 1, The 69 Dialogues between the Lamp and the Shadow will show in ACMI’s Gallery 3 from 2 December 2021 – 30 January 2022. For further details visit acmi.net.au

NOTES TO EDITORS:

ABOUT JASON PHU: ANALECTS OF KUNG PHU – BOOK 1, THE 69 DIALOGUES BETWEEN THE LAMP AND THE SHADOW
During times of uncertainty, people look for guidance. Jason Phu found it in martial arts films. By reclaiming wise sayings from movies and TV shows like Drunken Master (1978) and Avatar the Last Airbender (2005–08), Analects of Kung Phu presents a moving image philosophy for surviving contemporary life. Taught by action stars but inspired by classic Chinese texts like Lao Zi’s Dao De Jing, he questions whether these life lessons are genuinely useful. Phu is aware of how wisdom can be oversimplified and misused, how film subtitles miss the mark or even present a completely different narrative, and how we are guided in our day-to-day life by the movies we watch.

ABOUT JASON PHU
Jason Phu was born in 1989 in Sydney, Australia, and he lives and works in Melbourne. His artworks explore Chinese histories in Australia, his own family history, and Chinese/Vietnamese folktales. Jason has shown in the Dobell Drawing Biennale (2018) at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Burrangong Affray (2018) at the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Primavera 2018: Young Australian Artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art and was commissioned by the Sydney Opera House for the 2019 Art Assembly Commission.

In 2021 he was the recipient of the $80,000 Mordant Family Moving Image Commission for young Australian artists for Analects of Kung Phu. His work is showing in The Way We Eat at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and he is an artist for the arts festival Rising: Melbourne. He is represented by Station Gallery (Melbourne) and Chalk Horse (Sydney).

ABOUT ACMI
ACMI is Australia’s national museum of screen culture. The museum reopened in February after a two-year, $40 million redevelopment – an architectural, programmatic and technological transformation. Navigate the universe of film, TV, videogames and art with us. ACMI celebrates the wonder and power of the world’s most democratic artform – fostering the next generation of makers, players and watchers. ACMI’s vibrant calendar of exhibitions, screenings, commissions, festivals, and industry and education programs explore the stories, technologies and artists that create our shared screen culture.