By Kame Hame Widewalls (feature) on 08 March 2022

Unlike its commercial counterpart, the art film gives the creators unparalleled freedom in expression. Not aimed at broader audiences, it is free to explore themes that would otherwise be deemed too controversial. The sheer rawness of the subject in art film might be shocking, taboo or surreal, yet the content never fails to enlighten and inform, as is the case with the new film by multidisciplinary artist and Oscar Winner Tim Yip.

Tim Yip’s film Love Infinity takes a closer look at the societal themes of diversity, freedom and identity while focusing on East London’s distinctive creative spirit. Coming out this March on MUBI, a global streaming service, the film presents a unique opportunity to experience a cast of the most iconic creators from across the arts, including Jonny Woo, Vivienne Westwood, Philip Colbert, Daniel Lismore and Gilbert & George.

Darker Side of Commercial Movies

Tim Yip is best known for the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(dir. Ang Lee, 2000), for which he won an Oscar for Production Design. Yet he has repeatedly stated that the film industry driven by commercial factors has never held much attraction for him. Even though Yip collaborated with some of the world’s most sought-after screen directors, including John Woo, Stanley Kwan and Tsai Ming Liang, he always felt restricted.

With the artistic practice covering several disciplines, from sculpture, film, stage, drawing and writing, Yip’s unique style that blurs the boundaries between media could not be fully expressed in a conventional narrative framework. Love Infinite’s raw, intimate footage of untold stories brings forth the full power of Yip’s unbridled vision.

The Story of East London

In Love Infinity, Yip turns the aesthetic eye on the East End of London, taking us on a journey through "a place of poverty and hardship but also of new beginnings". Seamlessly blending documentary and fiction, the film is inspired by the present environmental crisis, economic uncertainty, and political division. Tim Yip said:

“Nobody creates out of a void. As I filmed, a phrase came to my mind: 'if you don’t like this world, you have to make a new one.’

With the help of a skeletal crew and a simple Canon 5D camera, Yip has given us a unique glimpse of the world which is both without time or a specific place. Following the story of a young girl gazing from "Grey London" towards "Colorful London", the film is filled with a menagerie of eclectic characters brought to life by artists Stephen Jones, Daniel Lismore and British art historian Charles Saumarez-Smith.

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Love Infinity on MUBI

Tim Yip’s film is a vision of the city as never seen before. It gives us an insight into the world of persecuted eccentric individuals living on the fringes of East London, who over time have transformed this part of the city. Love Infinity is produced by the designer and conceptual arts curator Mei-Hui Liu and world-renowned artist and photographer Maryam Eisler.

Tim Yip’s film Love Infinity will be streaming on MUBI from March 24th, 2022.

Credits

Interview by Kame Hame Widewalls (feature)

The original article: https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/tim-yip-love-infinity-mubi