*Discoveries
Phung-Tien Phan

In her first solo exhibition STOP DREAMING at Schiefe Zähne, Phung-Tien Phan shows a large-scale wall work as well as a group of sculptures that fill much of the exhibition space. Tables of various shapes and styles are borrowed from their original use as dining or office tables and transformed into work tables through various interventions. Phan creates, with sarcastic casualness, the distorted image of an existence between work, family and household, as well as the familiar longings to escape this construct.

Gallery Weekend Berlin  Hi Phung-Tien, where do you come form, what should we know about you and your background?

Phung-Tien Phan  Hi, I am from Essen, a former industrial city in the Ruhr area. It’s a rather super-non-spectacular place with no clear characteristics. It can be sometimes depressing but also gives strong melancholy vibes. Regarding my background, my parents are Vietnamese immigrants, which of course has a strong influence on everything… Do you know the TV show “Fresh off the boat”? It’s not bad.

GWB  What was the inspiration for your current body of work?

PTP  Hmmm… I think a lot of kid’s playground observations, heritage structures. Seeing old-school family patterns simply being repeated right in front of me. I.e. mostly moms are taking care of children. Children playing or also reading the same things their parents did when they were children. Also parents’ conversations.