Still from Time Spy (2016), by Sun Xun.
Still from Time Spy (2016), by Sun Xun.
Historical Amnesia: Short Films by Sun Xun (拒绝记忆的历史）
2:30 pm–3:45 pm
All films directed by Sun Xun (China, total runtime 74 min.). 3D animation with no dialogue.
Sun Xun, a contemporary Chinese artist, merges centuries-old techniques like woodblock printing and ink brushing with the 21st-century medium of digital animated film, crafting narratives that traverse time and culture and draw from Eastern and Western traditions alike. Carving more than 10,000 woodblocks, Sun and his team combine meticulous craftsmanship with digital scanning to produce animation cells. Sun’s multidisciplinary practice blurs boundaries between drawing, painting, and animation, exploring themes such as history, memory, and politics influenced by his upbringing China after the Cultural Revolution. Through labor intensive moving-image making, he creates a theater of memory, weaving together realistic and fantastical iconography, challenging conventional narratives.
Program
Shocking Dreams in the Circus (2024)
Utopia in the Day (2004)
Heroes No Longer (2008)
21 Ke (2010)
Magician Party and Dead Crow (2013)
Time Spy (2016)
Stick around after the screening for a discussion with the artist and Christina Yu Yu, Matsutaro Shoriki Chair, Art of Asia.
Wheelchair accessible
Ticket Information
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.