Fragmented Forest

2012, DV, 15:22 min, China

Fragmented forest describes a former rainforest that is cut down in a manner that leaves behind small, isolated patches of forest. These small "islands" become sites for ecological research on biodiversity, they become park for leisure, or they become rubber tree plantations. Filmed in Xishuangbanna in the Southeast of China on the border to Laos and Mynarmar, a tree was worshiped by the inhabitants and the visitors (plantation workers, farmers, lumberjacks, cleaners, tourists, ecologists) alike.
Testing a "speculative" camera, it stays unclear what is at issue: the plants, the light, the shadow and the plastic pieces of the worshiped tree become inseparabel. Every image becomes a thing and the things become images.

many thanks to: Zhou Hongxiang, and Zhang Li