SPACE ODDITY
Phoebe Hui shares how the increasing distance between Earth and the moon inspired her artwork ‘The Moon is Leaving Us’.
Phoebe Hui shares how the increasing distance between Earth and the moon inspired her artwork ‘The Moon is Leaving Us’.
Interdisciplinary artist Phoebe Hui won the Audemars Piguet Art Commission for her large-scale installation ‘The Moon is Leaving Us’. The fifth iteration of this biennial competition, it marks the first time that the Art Commission was held in Asia – and the first time that a solo female artist has won it. Premiering at Tai Kwun in Hong Kong on April 23, the installation stayed on view for a month. We speak to Hui about her artwork.
How did your interest in the moon as a subject start?
My research largely focuses on science and technology to help audiences better understand the complexity of the universe. My interest in the moon dates back to when I was a child and first discovered Su Dongpo’s legendary poem Prelude to Water Melody. The main character stares at the moon, longing for his brother. After spending many years away from my friends and family while studying abroad, the moon made the separation more bearable for me. By looking at the moon, I feel closer to those I love – a feeling that particularly resonates today.
“On the walk there, we found ourselves on a moonlit road, where the moon was the only source of light.”
Your interest in the moon was reignited in 2019 when you visited Vallee de Joux. Do you remember what went through your mind?
I visited Vallee de Joux to meet the Audemars Piguet Contemporary team. They organised a lovely dinner at a remote restaurant in the Swiss mountains. On the walk there, we found ourselves on a moonlit road, where the moon was the only source of light. This was a different experience from my life in Hong Kong, a buzzing metropolis that is always lit by the city’s skyline and neon lights. I knew then that I wanted to explore the many facets of the moon, some of which are widely known to us and others that are not, including the scientific fact that the moon is slowly migrating away from Earth. The questions this finding raised, coupled with how humanity sees and experiences the moon, are at the heart of this project.
What was the most troublesome part of creating ‘The Moon Is Leaving Us’?
I am a research-based artist. My process is usually pretty lengthy, and my works keep evolving until installation. I spent a long time working through ideas until I completed the concept. I am grateful to the Audemars Piguet Contemporary team, who facilitated introductions for me beyond my network and offered me the opportunity to consult with experts, scientists and even a former astronaut as I worked to develop my artwork. These conversations were vital in developing the work into what it is today.