1st <s>Light</s>

1st <s>Light</s>

Paul Chan
American, born Hong Kong 1973
2005
A 14-minute silent digital video presented as a floor projection in which Paul Chan uses shifting color and silhouetted imagery to turn a patch of gallery floor into a fleeting, uncanny stage that questions how images occupy physical space.
You first notice a glowing trapezoid of color on the floor—hues slide from violet to green as crisp, shadow-like birds and a larger silhouette skim across it, making the flat projection feel strangely alive.
By treating a projected image as a sculptural plane, Chan bridges video, installation, and performance to rethink perception and how moving images can physically reshape and politicize the gallery environment.
Medium
Digital video (color, silent)
Dimensions
14 min.
Classification
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Maja Oeri and Hans Bodenmann
Accession
1158.2008
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
View on moma.org

Semantic Neighborhood

Wide angle – 16 works across semantic space

press T

Keyboard Shortcuts

S Cycle source (semantic/color/artist/...)
P Toggle Sources column
V Cycle center mode (viewer/browser/split)
I Toggle Inspector column
\ Swap split direction
T Toggle toolbar
C Toggle palette strips
Shift+C Sort by color similarity
Shift+H Immersive mode (viewer only)
1-5 Set thumbnail size
? Toggle this help

Column shortcuts require ultrawide (2xl+) viewport

Related

45 – 65%
Sense and Sense 64%

Sense and Sense

Every Ocean Hughes

2010

Sense and Sense 64% Every Ocean Hughes 2010 Two-channel video (color, silent), fi... Installation Media and Performance Each: 11 x 14" (27.9 x 35.6... American 1210.2013.1-3
John 3:16 62%

John 3:16

Paul Pfeiffer

2000

John 3:16 62% Paul Pfeiffer 2000 Standard-definition video (color, sil... Installation Media and Performance 6 x 7 x 36" (15.2 x 17.8 x ... American 450.2002.a-c
Pervasive Light 62%

Pervasive Light

Sandra Mujinga

2021

Pervasive Light 62% Sandra Mujinga 2021 Three-channel high-definition video (... Video Media and Performance Dimensions variable Norwegian 5.2022
Ordinary Shadows, Chinese Shade 62%

Ordinary Shadows, Chinese Shade

Paul Wong

1988

Ordinary Shadows, Chinese Shade 62% Paul Wong 1988 Video (color, sound) Video Media and Performance 90 min. Canadian 493.1988
Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom 62%

Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom

Paul Pfeiffer

2000

Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom 62% Paul Pfeiffer 2000 Two digital videos (color, silent; 0:... Installation Media and Performance 8 x 19 x 6" (20.3 x 48.3 x ... American 451.2002
We hold where study 61%

We hold where study

Wu Tsang

2017

We hold where study 61% Wu Tsang 2017 Two-channel video (color, sound) Installation Media and Performance 18:56 min. Dimensions varia... American 1230.2018
My birds...trash...the future 61%

My birds...trash...the future

Paul Chan

2004

My birds...trash...the future 61% Paul Chan 2004 Two-channel video (color, sound) Installation Media and Performance 17 min. Chinese 233.2005
Between Darkness and Light (After William Blake) 61%

Between Darkness and Light (After William Blake)

Douglas Gordon

1997

Between Darkness and Light (After William Blake) 61% Douglas Gordon 1997 Two-channel video (color and black an... Installation Media and Performance 107 min. and 155 min. Scottish 1097.2005.a-f
Not Blacking Out, Just Turning the Lights Off 61%

Not Blacking Out, Just Turning the Lights Off

James Richards

2011

Not Blacking Out, Just Turning the Lights Off 61% James Richards 2011 Two-channel video (color, sound; 16:1... Installation Media and Performance Dimensions variable British 894.2014
143652 61%

143652

Charles Atlas

2012

143652 61% Charles Atlas 2012 Video (color, silent) Installation Media and Performance 12 min. American 888.2014
Silent Movie 61%

Silent Movie

Jonathan Horowitz

2003

Silent Movie 61% Jonathan Horowitz 2003 Video (black and white and color, sou... Installation Media and Performance Dimensions variable American 1648.2009
Point 61%

Point

Paul Harrison

2001

Point 61% Paul Harrison 2001 Video (color, sound) Video Media and Performance 0:50 min. British 566.2004.3
Mirror Lamp 60%

Mirror Lamp

Matt Saunders

2011

Mirror Lamp 60% Matt Saunders 2011 Video (black and white, silent) Installation Media and Performance 14:14 min. American 627.2012