Kathy Hinde

Missing People : 2002

Site-specific video projection designed to be projected high up onto the side of a building, the subject being Shanghai window cleaners.

They glide freely across the grid-like structure of the building creating a visual ambiguity between the figure and its reflection enhanced by the stark black and white quality of the film.
Missing People emphasises the performing quality of these spidery figures creating a dance film found in everyday life.

The window cleaners are typically rural workers who travel to Shanghai for part of the year – only returning to their families for a brief period in the summer. The title ‘Missing People’, the silhouette-like figures and the grid structure of the building, are all techniques intended to point towards this dislocation being a result of the rapid urbanisation and fast growing business districts of China’s big centres.
Projected at numerous locations including Colston Hall, Bristol; FACT, Liverpool and on the side of an enormous mine at Norberg Festival, Sweden. Commissioned by Statement Media Arts, 2002.
Missing People was screened at Birds Eye View film Festival “Sound and Silents” programme with live accompaniment from pianist Joanna MacGregor and DJ Rita Ray, first being shown at BFI, and consequently touring to the Big Chill Festival and BFI’s Optronica Festival in 2005 and 2007.
Photos of Missing People in context…

As part of Wednesday Windows at The Parlour Showroom, Park street, Bristol.MissingPeople_WW3smallOn the side of FACT, LiverpoolMP_FactOn the roof of the National Theatre, London.MP_natTheatre1In a solo show at the VM Art Gallery, Karachi, PakistanMP_VMGalleryOn the windows of Colston Hall, Bristol’s new foyer at the Opening Launch.MP_colstonhallAt the Jam Factory, Oxford as part of Majam Oxford Brookes, MA group showMP_jamfactoryIn the city of Bath at a Silent Movie screening by Statement Media ArtsMP_BathOn the side of a huge Mine at Norberg Festival, SwedenMP_Norberg