Brain Island: Hyperreal City

2019 / HD Video/ 1280x720/ 8'27"

2019 /VR/ HD Video/ 1280x720/ 03'41"

Brain Island: Hyperreal City presents a picture of a hypothetical heterotopian country through a lens of religion and philosophy while using the multi-dimensional space of contemporary urban architecture and postmodern fantasy.

Hyperreal City develop on Michel Foucault’s concept of "the other space", first proposed in The Order of Things (1966). Six systems of ‘spaces’ are addressed in the work: well-ordered and perfect spaces that also contradict each other in the real world; different cultures and buildings that can be subtly juxtaposed with different dimensions and times; spaces that allow conditional entry following a ceremony of eligibility, and a space that is different from the Utopian fantasy, where Heterotopia is based on reality, it is orderly, but there is no absolute form.

Influenced by semiotics, Brain Island employs symbols and characters that are full of personality and can be seen everywhere. Performance and post-network art are used to both insinuate and interrogate the influence of political propaganda on individuals, and the formation of individual consciousness in the context of modern society.

Using symbolism and anthropomorphism, the constant blurring between fantasy and reality has produced an extreme brainwashing effect. The work maps the function of communication and combines technology, poetic narrative, pluralistic identity, and the deconstruction of human nature. The narrative structure of the work is shaped by a dramatic conflict, guiding the audience through a surreal cosmology.

Ideology is very important in this art project. Human Ideology is influenced by factors such as open-mindedness, environment, information (education, propaganda) and value orientation. Being Chinese, I have a profound personal experience under the Chinese political system. When I received reports from media in other countries, I found this distorted the narrative that Chinese citizens experience and directly affects the subjective speech of ordinary people. When a person supposes that "the Chinese people have no ability to think, no autonomy, no democracy" then their vision seems to always look in that direction. The Chinese people have become the specific people represented, and the denunciation of "non-humanism" seems to have become a trend. Furthermore, this propaganda exists everywhere. Those who shouted for freedom actually gave up the freedom of thought, and the "facts" eventually lost any meaning as facts. Perhaps for independent thinking, what we should continue is the kind of humanistic spirit and critical consciousness. When we say goodbye to Utopia, we still have ideals. Brain Island: Hyperreal City implies a vague and contemporary situation; an imagined reflection of an extreme political environment that exists on a shifting spectrum where there is no black and white.

As an experimental short film, Brain Island: Hyperreal City uses green screen composite image shooting, exaggerated shapes and props to create heightened imagery, computer software to join the background, make virtual scene modeling, cover a variety of different cultural styles, a large number of shows Based on the visual effects produced by new media. From the qualitative change of images to the circulation of cultural forms, from the politics of participation to the new understanding of physicality. This artistic expression is deeply influenced by post-internet art. ‘Brain Island: Hyperreal City’ reflecting on the impact of technology on the present life and the world, and how "I" is everywhere. It shows a "new world" that is not only aesthetic, but also ugly, reflective, profound, powerful, and cannot be fully explained. Presenting individualized, microscopic and diversified artistic features and symbolic expressions.