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From the few Chinese artists I do know, one theme that tends to appear often is an interest in their own language (as well as how they notice others interest in it) and in particular, the written characters of it.

During the Cultural Revolution chairman Mao set out to destroy the old in order to bring in and recreate a new China. This meant the destruction of the traditional ways of art making, literature and much more. Old villages were torn down and replaced with new ones, even there traditional characteristics of their writing were simplified, this resulting in many feeling as though their history and tradition were being torn away with it.

While searching through we-make-money-not-art.com I came across the work of Hung Keung, I found myself instantly interested, but there was not so much information so I decided to research him further.

Hung Keung, a well renowned Chinese artist as well as an assistant professor of the School of Design in Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in 2004 founded innov+media lab (imhk lab). Hung Keung’s imhk lab focuses on new media art and design research in relation to Chinese philosophy and interactivity.

The work that caught my attention in particular, BCSL Project (Version III) is an interactive, digitally created, interactive installation. Projection screens are set up so that visitors are recorded and see themselves in real time and at the same time Chinese characters that are floating around the screen then gravitate to the visitors projected image. It is designed in such a way that the visitors (audience) can interact and play with the characters.

Hung Keung

“Today’s Chinese cities are transforming from a traditional model into today’s high-tech areas, just as Chinese characters transformed from traditional characters into simplified characters…on the one hand, you want to know more about this new China, always want it to move more quickly, but on the other hand, you want it to be nostalgic, and only move forward slightly. Therefore, my work wants to invite the audience to come into the situation of change, development and innovation. Let them use their body to experience the dilemma of whether change or not, what is should or should not and what response is the definition of should.”

 http://www.hungkeung.hk/

Hung Keung, BCSL Project (Version III)

http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/art_from_china/