In The Deer of Nine Colors, artist and director Andrew Thomas Huang adapts the Buddhist Jatāka tale of the same name into a queer neon-lit sci-fi story that centers on a Thai trans woman who seeks out her past life as a deer. The mysterious Dr. Anurak aids her journey with his “past life scanner,” which allows her to travel back in time as a deer through her subconscious. The original creature from the folktale symbolizes rebirth for the heroine, who, after finding true bliss and her previous name, transforms into the divine, luminous deer.
The three-channel video blends futuristic melodrama, Buddhist folklore, and a stunningly choreographed dance into one cinematic marvel, engrossing viewers with its thriller-like pace and narrative progression. “People saw my work in Thailand, and came out and were like, 'Well, that wasn't video art, that was a movie,'” Huang said recently, pointing to his embrace of popular filmmaking techniques and ability to make accessible works of art while still engaging with experimental visual language and complex themes. The Deer of Nine Colors walks this line, fusing the mainstream with the unconventional into a stunning 24-minute high-concept sci-fi journey.
Huang, who has directed music videos for internationally renowned musicians such as Björk, FKA Twigs, and Perfume Genius, also draws heavily on Chinese mythology and Daoism, often referencing the Chinese goddess Xiwangmu and mythic dragon as well as Daoist scripture and codes. Queerness is also foundational to his practice, not only in The Deer of Nine Colors but also in previous work like Kiss of the Rabbit God, a short film about queer love, faith, and Chinese food.
Andrew Thomas Huang: The Deer of Nine Colors is now on view in BCAM, Level 2, through June 14.