Kunsthuis SYB

During Open Monument Day on Saturday, September 14, 2024, Kunsthuis SYB presents a short film by artist Nina Yuen, who was a guest at SYB during her residency in 2010.

Kunsthuis SYB: The House with the Eagle

Address: Hoofdstraat 70, Beetsterzwaag

Opening hours: 11:00 – 17:00

Who is David? While his identity remains fictitious, his lover – played by Nina Yuen – haunts the screen. Yuen is seen occupied with casting spells and meticulously following rituals in hope of winning him back; from decorating apples with sprinkles and candy to wrapping gin bottles in handkerchiefs. The video is covered by a thick layer of superstition that Yuen performs on screen in colorful and playful dresses. Against the backdrop of a small, safe world of retro-aesthetics, Yuen recites flowy and mesmerizing mantras that link the footage together and involve the viewer in a seemingly close and intimate conversation. The result is a hypnotizing sequence where love, beauty, and superstition coalesce.

About the artist
Nina Yuen (1981, Hawaii) is a performance and video-artist. She was a resident at Kunsthuis SYB in 2010. During her stay at SYB, she focused on the daily morning routines of her friends and acquaintances. What kind of personal rituals articulate this moment of the day? David is a continuation of the research Yuen started in SYB during her residency.

Yuen holds an MFA from Bard College and a BA from Harvard University, and has participated in numerous exhibitions across the world such as The Eye, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Jane Lombard Projects, New York; Stenersen Museum, Oslo; the New Media Festival, Seoul; the International Biennale for Young Art, Moscow; the Rotterdam Film Festival; Kino Lab, Warsaw; Kassel Documentary Festival; OK Video Festival, Jakarta; and the Images Film Festival, Toronto.

Read more about Yuen’s 2010 residency here.