“Heteroglossia, also known as the theory of polyphony… The term refers to the coexistence of different languages as well as the conflicts between them… …along with the consequences of global standardization at the superficial level, radical changes have simultaneously germinated within society. …the theme of this exhibition, … provides a critical line of inquiry into it… by formulating a dialogue between the artists and a world that has become more and more complex and challenging.” (Exhibition manual, Yun Cheagab)
First of all, I want to admit here that it is one thing just to visit an exhibition and another is understanding of an exhibition’s story and deepness of the works. In my opinion, essential is an afterwards analyze. I didn’t know about Mikhail Bakhtin. Evgeny Vodolazkin in ‘Aviator’ well describes Russia in 1920-1940, people's suffer and the mystery of surviving. Mikhail Bakhtin was one of those who was convicted in a political case in 1929 and sent into exile. Still Bakhtin despite this he continued to work and staid truly passionate and dedicated to his studies. Perhaps the reason for survival and keep a clear mind for the hero of the Vodolazkin's novel and Bakhtin were the love of art and literature.
ХРОНОС, [Online] Available from: http://hrono.ru/biograf/bio_b/bahtinmm.php [Accessed 02/01/19]
Second, the works themselves. I’m going to emphasise only some which were interesting for me.
“Yangjiang Group questioning consumer society through a series of striking visual signs and commodities;” (Exhibition manual)
Yangjiang Group, Last Day, 2015/2018, Mixed media, Dimensions variable. Shanghai, HOW Art Museum 11.12.2018.
This work is direct and narrative. The big wall-stands and advertising panels with loud numbers of discounts and sale, clothes covered with “a time wax” all these elements are as today we would paint a naked woman in a baroque style. No secret sense, no poetic references… Critique of the society which is obvious and straight forward here is not helping to support the subject of this exhibition. Though this problem as never before actual and loud in our world.
Peng Hung-Chih, Propaganda Trilogy, 2008-2018 3-channel HD video 10 min 3 sec., Shanghai, HOW Art Museum 11.12.2018.
Here the name of Peng Hung-Chih’s work is direct and the subject is clear – someone will tell us what to think and what to do, kitsch. But the realisation of this work is 100% hits purpose of the artwork for me. This work asking to think, you involved in the visual process, it is emotional and relates to the place.
Starting from the last point – relates to the place – Chinese like to sing karaoke. The way this video conceived to represent it in Shanghai most likely will be accepted positively and rhetorically. As political context in this work made me question how exhibitor accepted this piece for the show. Because some or, I hope, many can see references to the current state in the country. But this allegory crates even more interest around this work.
Involvement into the art piece is by facial expression and passion with which professional singers are performing. Just a close zoom to the face and the tension in a small triangle-room is guaranteed.
This amazing video makes you at least read the research of the artist and reflect on the past and the future, question it.
Ho Tzu Nyen, No man. 2015, 6 channel video projection on mirrors, smoke machines, 10 channel sound, show control system. 6 min. Shanghai, HOW Art Museum 11.12.2018.
The artist Ho Tzu Nyen “examines the power of epic myths” (Exhibition manual). A designed world with sound and smoke is a reality which you almost could touch. Involving all sense of perception the artist doesn’t give the viewer a chance to be distracted by anything while you are physically present in the artwork, except if it is a group of Chinese pupils.
As our society creates myths and lives with them, this work makes an attempt of bringing to life computer reality through the storytelling. What is reality? What is a myth? Religion is a myth or reality? What if one of the myths from your personal computer one day walks next to you? Of course her I’m thinking about Harari “Sapiens” and all “our perspective” in near future…
Here I need to mention and another possible point of view. As Dostoevsky made each character as a separate multiplicity of independent and non-spoken voices and minds, genuine polyphony (Bakhtin, 1963, p.10) – Heteroglossia, I could try to do the same. I can try to see this work like “a player”… professional computer player.
My world is an imaginary space where I live, play, sleep, build, drive, explore, discover… in the physical world between the chair and computer screen, nothing is real for me and only food supports this world, the rest is unreal. I come into Ho Tzu Nyen’s work and my senses feel the spirit of each of 50 figures. I could tell you how ‘Nagibu’ moves and how fast he is in the digital world, what type of lady is ‘Lee Chang’… this makes me feel happy and home. After the exhibition visit, I come back to my computer and continue my digital life. What if one day this 50 identities could think…
Now we are coming back to our reality and remember what Harari said about the class of useless people (apart from philosophers and intellectuals, rulers). If artificial intelligence is better one day we are going to keep happy "useless people" with drugs and computer games.
To summarise my conclusion important to admit that all viewers can see this work in a different way but for diverse groups of society one thing is clear - digital can become reality through the same way as myths did, or religion, or money, or government, or property. We create it with own hands if we need it. And if we keep “useless people” on computer games, first, this useless people can create am artwork, but second, they can create a biological human prototype because as in novels there are always characters who creates and who ruins and not necessary that they are from "the right" side. So the impression out of this work allowed me to thing about this addictive part of gamers or “useless people”. We are responsible for society in whole, therefore, would be right to involve all society equally.
Bibliography and references
1. TED, Why humans run the world | Yuval Noah Harari [Online] Available from: https://youtu.be/nzj7Wg4DAbs [Accessed 02/01/19]
2. Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens. 2015. HarperCollins e-books Available on Scribd
3. М. М. Бахтин, Собрание сочинений Том 6. «Проблемы по этики Достоевского». 1963 Москва, РУССКИЕ СЛОВАРИ ЯЗЫКИ СЛАВЯНСКОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ, 2002
4. Е.Г. Водолазкин, Авиатор. 2016 Москва, ООО «Издательство АСТ»
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