Yee I-Lann’s practice speculates on issues of culture, power and the role of historical memory in our social experience via allusion to historical, popular and everyday references often through the medium of photography. Linking historical artistic methodologies such as batik with contemporary content such as recent histories, she experiments by blurring the boundaries between official record and subjective histories. Her current research focus is on folkloric female spirit ghost stories, specifically the Pontianak, versions of which are found throughout South East Asia. The Pontianak is commonly described as a vengeful woman who died in childbirth, is a seductress of innocent victims and resides in the banana tree. Singapore based Cathay-Keris and Shaw Brothers were amongst the earliest producers of cinematic versions of Pontianak stories spawning one of the most pervasive characters in regional cinema. I-Lann will be attempting to unpack the riddle of the Pontianak and will be watching a lot of horror films.
Malaysia
Yee I-Lann
Image Gallery
Contributors
Artist-in-Residence
Yee I-Lann