10. World Building and the Invention of Language: Author Ken Liu's Name Takes

In this episode of Name Takes, author Ken Liu draws upon his futurist perspective to underscore the profound differences between oral and literate societies. In this interview conducted by Mary Wang, Liu offers a deep dive into the complexities of world-building, language construction, and the significance of naming. Central to their conversation is a language created by Liu as a unifying element amidst the diverse cultures of his fictional realm; that space is named Dara and its language is called Classical Ano. Liu also explains his concept of 'silk punk fantasy' as a means to intricately weave together diverse global traditions. Emphasizing the narrative technologies that shape society's collective identity, Liu advocates for a deeper understanding of storytelling. He also offers personal reflections about his name online: "Kyliu99".

For this episode of Name Takes, curator Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy invites artist Cihad Caner for a conversation at a recording studio in Rotterdam, where both of them live. Here, Caner shares insights into his artistic practice, exploring themes of migration and identity in video, installations, and photography. Central to their conversation is the artist’s exploration of the Dutch pastry called Moorkop, which literally translates as moor’s head. Caner speaks about ways in which this pastry, in particular, and issues of representation in general appear in his work. Caner's exploration prompts listeners to critically engage with the power of names and narratives, bridging past and present, challenging racial bias, and reimagining collective histories.

In this episode of Name Takes, artist Jun Yang discusses his artistic journey and the significance of names in the art world. Here, he explores the challenges of cultural expectations and biases in the art community, including instances of exhibition exclusion based on his name. This has raised an interest in artistically exploring the concept and roles of autobiography in the arts. Yang also challenges notions of artistic singularity in his work. Among the projects he speaks about is one involving another artist with the same name. In this interview conducted by writer Mary Wang, Yang makes a compelling case for using names to disrupt institutional conventions and drive change in the art world. 

In this episode of Name Takes, artist Shevaun Wright discusses her project "Class Action," which examines the naming of a university gallery at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. The conversation between Sarah Demeuse and Wright delves into the psychological impact of repeated exposure to names; the concept of reputational laundering through art philanthropy; and Wright's legal efforts to challenge the presence of a funder’s name on the school building. Despite having graduated, she remains committed to activism and raising awareness about accountability in university naming practices. The episode concludes with reflections on the artist’s own name, emphasizing the multifaceted layers of meaning embedded in names.

In this episode of Name Takes, writer Mary Wang speaks to artist Dane Mitchell about his project "Post Hoc",  presented at the Aotearoa - New Zealand National Pavilion in the 58th Venice Biennale. "Post Hoc" centers around the act of naming and the ephemeral nature of existence. For this project, Mitchell meticulously created an extensive list of vanished entities, which range from extinct animals to discontinued fragrances. While having an encyclopedic nature, the artist acknowledges the inherent incompleteness of the names list… and the potential evolution of the project. The episode concludes with an anecdote on the serendipitous connections surrounding Mitchell’s own name, highlighting the unexpected ways in which naming can shape our lives.

In this episode of Name Takes, curator Sarah Demeuse speaks to artist Liesbeth Bik about the renaming of Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, the institution formerly known as Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art. Bik explores the broader implications of the name change, highlighting the transformative power of art institutions in shaping cultural narratives and fostering dialogue. She gives attention to the institution's history and the significance of its previous name, as well as to the community-driven processes involved in its renaming. The Rotterdam artist views the renaming as a form of knowledge production, one that not only reflects societal shifts but also actively contributes to shaping them. 

Over the past years, #saytheirnames has become widespread. Why is saying a name so important? Kay Em explores what it means to say, to not say, or to not be able to say someone’s name.  Guatemalan artist Benvenuto Chavajay speaks to indigenous language, misnaming, and silence, and curator Andrea Valencia reflects upon names not included in the 9/11 Memorial in New York. This episode ends with artist Nicoline van Harskamp speaking about her project My Name is Language. PILOT SEASON The episodes are scripted in English and include excerpts in Dutch, Spanish, and Arabic with English interpretations. The episodes are available with subtitles in English on our YouTube channel. Dutch subtitles will be available soon. SEASON ONE The storyboard for upcoming episodes is in development! If you would like to share a story about a name—or even about the culture of naming in general—to consider for a future episode, please email us: [email protected]. CREDITS The episodes of the pilot season of Names Takes were written by Sarah Demeuse and Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, and narrated by Kay Em, who is performed by Aqueene Wilson, the 2020-2021 Collective Learning in Practice (CLIP) Program Fellow at Kunstinstituut Melly. Jurith Schols is the voice talent of select citations. The podcast’s voice recording, mixing, and original music has been developed by Jan Pohl at Okapi Recordings in Rotterdam. The audio files were mastered by Masterenzo Mastering. Production management was overseen by Wendy van Slagmaat Bos, and communication and marketing by Jeroen Lavèn. The graphic design of Name Takes is by Wooseok Jang from Orange Slice Type, who participated in the third annual edition of CLIP, from 2020 to 2021. The pilot season of Name Takes is produced by Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, thanks to a grant from a donor who wishes to remain unnamed. Really. If you are interested in sponsoring Name Takes or in making a donation to support its production, whether under your name or credited anonymously, please reach out: [email protected].

What happens when artists take on new names and identities? What are the motivations and consequences? Kay Em brings together personal stories by and about artists’ names in different continents: poet Anaïs Duplan from New York; artist Wong Kit Yi from Hong Kong; and artist, writer, and organizer Fernanda Laguna from Buenos Aires. This episode ends with a deeply intimate reading by Stockholm-based artist Every Ocean Hughes about their own name change. PILOT SEASON The episodes are scripted in English and include excerpts in Dutch, Spanish, and Arabic with English interpretations. The episodes are available with subtitles in English on our YouTube channel. Dutch subtitles will be available soon. SEASON ONE The storyboard for upcoming episodes is in development! If you would like to share a story about a name—or even about the culture of naming in general—to consider for a future episode, please email us: [email protected]. CREDITS The episodes of the pilot season of Names Takes were written by Sarah Demeuse and Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, and narrated by Kay Em, who is performed by Aqueene Wilson, the 2020-2021 Collective Learning in Practice (CLIP) Program Fellow at Kunstinstituut Melly. Jurith Schols is the voice talent of select citations. The podcast’s voice recording, mixing, and original music has been developed by Jan Pohl at Okapi Recordings in Rotterdam. The audio files were mastered by Masterenzo Mastering. Production management was overseen by Wendy van Slagmaat Bos, and communication and marketing by Jeroen Lavèn. The graphic design of Name Takes is by Wooseok Jang from Orange Slice Type, who participated in the third annual edition of CLIP, from 2020 to 2021. The pilot season of Name Takes is produced by Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, thanks to a grant from a donor who wishes to remain unnamed. Really. If you are interested in sponsoring Name Takes or in making a donation to support its production, whether under your name or credited anonymously, please reach out: [email protected].

Kay Em unpacks our renaming process from Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art to Kunstinstituut Melly, and looks at dissonant heritage. She connects our institutional name change to other ongoing renaming processes and to site-specific art practices. Artist Sasha Huber discusses a problematic case of place naming and explains how her advocacy of anti-racism converges with her artistic practice. The episode ends with a reflection on the meaning of names by artists Ayreen Anastas and Rene Gabri. PILOT SEASON The episodes are scripted in English, and include excerpts in Dutch, Spanish, and Arabic with English interpretations. The episodes are available with subtitles in English on our YouTube channel. Dutch subtitles will be available soon. SEASON ONE The storyboard for upcoming episodes is in development! If you would like to share a story about a name—or even about the culture of naming in general—to consider for a future episode, please email us: [email protected]. CREDITS The episodes of the pilot season of Names Takes were written by Sarah Demeuse and Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, and narrated by Kay Em, who is performed by Aqueene Wilson, the 2020-2021 Collective Learning in Practice (CLIP) Program Fellow at Kunstinstituut Melly. Jurith Schols is the voice talent of select citations. The podcast’s voice recording, mixing, and original music has been developed by Jan Pohl at Okapi Recordings in Rotterdam. The audio files were mastered by Masterenzo Mastering. Production management was overseen by Wendy van Slagmaat Bos, and communication and marketing by Jeroen Lavèn. The graphic design of Name Takes is by Wooseok Jang from Orange Slice Type, who participated in the third annual edition of CLIP, from 2020 to 2021. The pilot season of Name Takes is produced by Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, thanks to a grant from a donor who wishes to remain unnamed. Really. If you are interested in sponsoring Name Takes or in making a donation to support its production, whether under your name or credited anonymously, please reach out: [email protected].

Host Kay Em explores the historical context of names and centers especially on the name Witte de With, the name our institution had been given in 1990. Jumping back and forth in time, she delves into street naming, imagined communities, and colonial histories in The Netherlands. The episode ends with a segment of a film-in-development by Rotterdam artist Sara Rajaei, which tells a story about street naming in The City of Poets. PILOT SEASON The episodes are scripted in English and include excerpts in Dutch, Spanish, and Arabic with English interpretations. The episodes are available with subtitles in English on our YouTube channel. Dutch subtitles will be available soon. SEASON ONE The storyboard for upcoming episodes is in development! If you would like to share a story about a name—or even about the culture of naming in general—to consider for a future episode, please email us: [email protected]. CREDITS The episodes of the pilot season of Names Takes were written by Sarah Demeuse and Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, and narrated by Kay Em, who is performed by Aqueene Wilson, the 2020-2021 Collective Learning in Practice (CLIP) Program Fellow at Kunstinstituut Melly. Jurith Schols is the voice talent of select citations. The podcast’s voice recording, mixing, and original music has been developed by Jan Pohl at Okapi Recordings in Rotterdam. The audio files were mastered by Masterenzo Mastering. Production management was overseen by Wendy van Slagmaat Bos, and communication and marketing by Jeroen Lavèn. The graphic design of Name Takes is by Wooseok Jang from Orange Slice Type, who participated in the third annual edition of CLIP, from 2020 to 2021. The pilot season of Name Takes is produced by Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, thanks to a grant from a donor who wishes to remain unnamed. Really. If you are interested in sponsoring Name Takes or in making a donation to support its production, whether under your name or credited anonymously, please reach out: [email protected].