Name: Jiho Ahn
"Name: Jiho Ahn" is a video art piece that probes the essence and arbitrariness of names, and their tenuous connection to identity. This work presents a compelling visual narrative that traverses diverse bureaucratic, cultural, and both tangible and digital landscapes. Through documented interactions with various documents—such as administrative forms, delivery boxes, and personal letters—and digital accounts in multiple languages (Korean, Chinese, and English), it underscores how names, though arbitrary, play a crucial role in our societal functions.
The piece portrays a name as analogous to a vector's arrow: it points towards an individual but is not inherently part of one’s essence. A name functions as a detachable address, an apparatus to locate, not define, a person, which can be altered or lifted by choice. This video interweaves photographs of documents and addresses with intimate videos of the artist, all under a penetrating camera gaze. Such layering not only challenges viewers to rethink the significance of names but also delves into broader themes of identity and recognition.
Due to its profound and intimate nature, "Name: Jiho Ahn" is exclusively available for viewing at select exhibitions and viewing events. This selective accessibility ensures that audiences engage with the piece in environments that fully appreciate and enhance its nuanced exploration of identity and personal history.