Buddha in CQ 2022
2022
With HE Yuqi
Sound Installation, 3D Art
"Buddha in CQ 2022" is an immersive virtual sound installation, serving as an artful exploration of the intersection between technology, human expression, and societal restrictions, offering a unique perspective on the challenges of our cyberpunk reality. This project blends technological realities and human struggles within the context of compulsory quarantine and city lockdown during COVID times.
Audiences embark on a sonic journey, greeted by an electronic adaptation of a timeless Chinese folk rhyme. This repetitive narrative mirrors the monotony of lockdown life, devoid of a clear resolution. Progressing through futuristic ambient sounds and urban noises, the installation introduces the heartless command "請抑製住靈魂對自由的渴望 (Please restrain the desire for freedom of your soul)," echoing from a Shanghai drone enforcing lockdown regulations.
The immersive experience continues with an ironic twist, incorporating Morse code signals of "SOS" fading into urban chaos. This symbolizes the muted voices of quarantined individuals, akin to the Han Buddha in our narrative, grappling with a lack of representation in the public sphere.
The soundtracks, including the haunting command and Morse code, are skillfully remixed, inspired by Alvin Lucier’s "I Am Sitting in a Room," to evoke a gradual fading effect.
We recommend visiting our virtual sound space on your computer or through your VR device. Please refer to the sound map above.