Shot entirely from an apartment on the 36th floor of a high-rise building, the images in this experimental animation survey large parts of Hong Kong’s cityscape, drawing attention to the individual lives hidden inside its buildings – together alone, collectively sequestered. Initially recorded in 2020 and completed in 2023 with the advantage of critical distance, TWENTYTИƎWT / 二〇二〇 attempts to encapsulate the darkness, confinement, and uncertainty of the year 2020.
Max Hattler’s experimental animation works explore relationships between abstraction and figuration, aesthetics and politics, sound and image, and precision and improvisation. Max holds a BA in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, an MA in Animation from the Royal College of Art, and a Doctorate in Fine Art from the University of East London. His work has been presented at museums, galleries and festivals around the world. Awards include London International Animation Festival, Annecy Animation Festival, and several Visual Music Awards. He has performed live at Sonar Hong Kong, Seoul Museum of Art, EXPO Milano and the European Media Art Festival. Max has been on the jury of festivals including Filmfest Dresden, Animafest Zagreb, CutOut Fest Mexico, Punto y Raya Festival and Tehran International Animation Festival. He is a Professor at School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong.
