For Immediate Release
September 12, 2022

CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS TIMELESS FILM
 

Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Saturday, October 8, the Clark Art Institute screens Timeless, a new film by poetic research unit Shanzhai Lyric, filmmaker Solveig Qu Suess, and artist Yi Xin Tong. It explores “shanzhai,” the Chinese term for counterfeit, which also means “mountain hamlet.” The screening takes place in the Clark’s auditorium at 6 pm.

Timeless’ exploration of “mountain hamlet” references an enclave on the outskirts of empire where bandits steal goods and redistribute them among those living on the edges. Considering the double entendre of the word “hamlet,” as both an outlaw stronghold and William Shakespeare's iconic “prince of privilege,” the film traces insurrectionary movements, considering places from the scholar-recluses of China's Mount Lu to the bootleg markets of New York City’s Canal Street. Appearing in conjunction with the exhibition Tauba Auerbach and Yuji Agematsu: Meander—which speaks to the perception of the oscillating flows of matter and energy around us, this screening (in the mountain hamlet of Williamstown, Massachusetts) is the U.S. debut of the film. The filmmakers join Meander exhibition curator Robert Wiesenberger in conversation following the screening.

Free; no registration is required. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303. 

Use of facemasks is optional for all visitors. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.

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