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Plage Concrete Extent: 1 videocassette of 1 (ca. 17 min.) : sd., col. ; 3/4 in. 1 folder See the record for "New Television, Episode 506 (1989)" for additional descriptions of videos containing this work. Copyright Date: 1988 Copyright Holder: Ping Chong ? Artists: Chong, Ping Hoyt, Nancy

Background:
"Plage Concrete" was shown as a segment of Episode 506 of the 1989 season of "New Television." It was exhibited at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Scope:
Includes a single 3/4" screening tape. An 8 X 10 black-and-white photographic print shows the installation of the work at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, PA. The work has also been preserved on several tapes with the complete episode of "New Television" it was broadcast on.

Chong's work, of which Nancy Hoyt is credited as "curatorial consultant," surveys several unique environments. Footage of museums, hotels, the interior of a nursing home, a mountain stop, and street scenes are woven together to create a mysterious and meditative narrative. Text is incorporated. A taxidermist speaks of the loss of artistic skills in that profession. Philosophical and statistical visual text provides a vast historical survey of uncertain purpose. Stuffed animals of museum quality are filmed. Select locations for the work include the Carnegie Museum, Falling Waters, Laurel Caverns, Negley House, and a Hilton hotel. Many of the primary images are repeated in new combinations. As the work progresses, the speech of the cameraperson is incorporated into the shots, which are extended. At times, one image literally frames another, and the effect, achieved through superimposition, is that of a window or gateway. The work incorporates many languages. A set of instructions is quoted from in several languages. A woman's voice narrates some of the scenes, speaking an Asian language. Little credit information is included.

Editors:
Chong, Ping
Froese, Dieter
Hines, Kay

Funder:
National Endowment for the Arts

Subjects:
Museums
Taxidermy
Travel


See Also:
New Television, Episode 506 (1989)

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