Present Silence

Silent by choice and living in a cave away from society, the nameless subject of Man With No Name appears like a total cypher from a distance. The intimate perspective of Wang Bing’s camera, however, ensures that he is never observed from a distance, instead immersing us in his unusual routines with a proximity bordering on uncomfortable. As we watch him walk, forage, cook, and eat, his existence becomes deeply accessible on a sensory level, even as his motives grow increasingly obscure.

By allowing us to spend time in the silent company of another, Man With No Name is a powerful reminder of the value in listening even when no one is speaking, opening the way for new forms of empathy.