Carnegie Museum Presents TYRANT STAR Film Review — Details and Sounds

Posted on by Lisa Ryou
Carnegie Museum TYRANT STAR
Diane Severin Nguyen, Tyrant Star (detail of film still), 2019, Carnegie Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Rich Fund © Diane Severin Nguyen

A high-pitched beeping—the sound similar to that of a truck backing up—fills the black screen. The beeping slowly fades away as the camera quickly cuts to another shot.

This short 16-minute video is filled with images of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Tyrant Star gives us the beauty of nature up close.  Natural sounds fill the space —birds chirping, the sound of flowing water. Those moments are soon followed by contrasting shots of nature filled with trash or other man-made objects—plastic bags stuck to plants, piles of garbage, coils of powerlines, and the tall buildings of the city.

A durian is slowly peeled. The wind rustles through the leaves. There is an abundance of close-up shots.

While the appearance of people is limited, their presence is seen through the effects we have on the environment. The voices of a man and woman also accompany the contrasting shots as they recite Ca Dao (Vietnamese folk poems). What we see also seems to match the mood of each poem that is spoken. It is only in the second part of the video do we see a person, a young woman singing a cover of A Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel.
Everything in Tyrant Star is subtle and slow, allowing us to take in the different perspectives of each section. Though the focus of each section is different, they are still connected by similar images. There is a continual appearance of fans, stars, and of course, the high pitch beeping.

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Created by Diane Severin Nguyen

When: Available for free online until February 14, 2021
To view similar exhibits or get information on future ones, visit Carnegie Museum of Art
Images courtesy of Carnegie Museum

Lisa Ryou

About the Author: Lisa Ryou

Lisa Ryou is from a suburb of Chicago. Having lived near Chicago her whole life, she is no stranger to the creative scene of the city. She is currently studying History, Museum Studies, and Art at the University of Michigan. She has been involved in fine arts her whole life and tries to use her works, both art and writing, as a way to give voice to BIPOC. When she is not at school, you can find her baking, reading, painting, or taking photos.

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