More works... (Audio & Video)

Sound Series
Audio (recorded and edited), 2023-present
    This work continuously collect audio samples from different places which are characteristically connected to the place at the time. They attempt to construct sensitive, intense sonic landscapes that are specifically connected to the particular spatiotemporal coordinates, achieving immersive scenario transportation for listeners through auditory means alone, devoid of visual elements.

I recorded and edited this audio in an old-style residential neighborhood in my hometown Hangzhou, China. This is where my cousin grew up—a typical southern Chinese residential community, where dozens of apartments are built into the form of a community called "xiaoqu" (小区). Without prior notice, I captured the voice of my grandmother and the sounds of daily life: plates clinking, conversations, footsteps, dogs barking, distant calls, the rush of water, a baby crying... (August 2023)

This audio was recorded right in the middle of Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺), located on the mountaintop in my hometown. This temple is the most popular one in the West Lake scenic area, but visitors must climb many steps to reach the highest point. Sitting here for hours, I experienced a sense of peace and joy, and heard and recorded the distant sound of a traditional flute—a sound that has accompanied my childhood yet I never know where it is from. I don’t know under what circumstances I heard it before, but whenever I hear it, I immediately recognize it as a sound deeply connected to my hometown. (August 2023)

This audio was recorded on Ward’s Island, part of the Toronto Islands in Toronto, Canada. I placed the recorder inside a sealed plastic bag and submerged it in the waves along the shore. It was during the coldest time of winter, and I believe the chill can be conveyed to the audience through the sound. (February 2024)

This audio was recorded during my trip to old Havana City, Cuba. It captures one of the liveliest intersections in this city/tourist area. A white-haired elderly man was playing the piano inside a restaurant, while street performers drummed and sang at a different spot nearby. Tourists and locals passed by or stopped to enjoy the scene. The sunlight was warm, and this vibrant, colorful city was beautiful. (February 2024)

Past, Present and Future
Video, 2023
Click to watch
    The project is inspired by the preface of Between Past and Future by Hannah Arendt. I intend to use my personal past experience to illustrate an excerpt which explores the philosophical concept of time as not merely a linear progression but a complex interplay between past and future, with human's existence creating a rupture in the continuum. Drawing on Kafka's metaphorical landscape, the excerpt argues that human agency disrupts the traditional view of time as a straight line, instead envisioning it as a battleground where past and future forces intersect at an angle, forming a dy namic "parallelogram of forces." This perspective suggests that human action, positioned within this temporal framework, generates a new force—a diagonal—that emerges from the clash of opposing temporal directions, creating a nuanced understanding of time's multidimensional nature.
A text record of the voiceover p1
A text record of the voiceover p1
A text record of the voiceover p2
A text record of the voiceover p2
Referred text p1
Referred text p1
Referred text p2
Referred text p2
Mindscapes
Video, 2023
Click to watch
    This work is a stream of consciousness record of my life at that time. Using camera footage and editing techniques, I attempted to express my feelings and lived experiences during that specific period with an emphasis on the scattered and illogical nature of my subjective experience. The piece seeks to explore new forms of communicating subjective emotions, inviting viewers to grasp them on a deeper level beyond the visual and truly "feel" the artwork.
The Last Robot On the Earth
Sound, 2023
Click to listen
    The artwork is set in a possible future where humans have abandoned Earth, leaving behind a small portion of the population and robots. It sonically depicts the narrative of the last service robot on April 11, 2423, which eventually runs out of battery, suggesting that this might be the last sound ever made on Earth. The setting is gradually revealed through portions of the narrative that mention the date and the "history of humanity," while the robot's low battery status is conveyed by the audio becoming increasingly distorted and fragmented. I chose to present this narrative sonically because it leaves room for imagination while still offering a clear storyline.
    Through this gradually revealed sci-fi setting, the artwork explores themes related to our imagination about a future world under critical issues like climate change, environmental degradation, and a pessimistic outlook on the rapid development of technology, including the possibility of reaching a technological singularity. It points to a potential future where Earth becomes a wasteland devoid of civilization, with the last robot as the sole entity "alive," carrying on fragments of what we once considered civilization—how we brush our teeth, record history, deal with depression, and define our culture. The final, tragic, and even romantic part of the audio delivers a powerful message, warning viewers of the ultimate consequences if we fail to address these pressing concerns.
Text version of the voiceover p1
Text version of the voiceover p1
Text version of the voiceover p2
Text version of the voiceover p2
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