chinese whispers

We are navigating a new era characterised by intensified fragmentation. Our perception of the world is no longer seamless but rather broken into disjointed time intervals, mirroring a less cohesive version of ourselves. The extensive reach of social networks has given rise to our bodies being captured, dismembered, and distributed across countless screens globally. In essence, we no longer operate as individual entities but have been woven into the fabric of the media infrastructure. This techno-human phenomenon has shifted the existing notions of selves and revealed the performative nature inherent in our contemporary lives that transcends the boundaries between the physical and virtual realms.

Titled in response to Western misconceptions of the Chinese languages, chinese whispers sets out to unravel the complex layers of our physical-digital existence, infused with a touch of humour. Adam Hsieh presents himself through a series of subtly different portrait photographs on the wall. Notably, he incorporates QR code images, the symbolic technological artifacts in our everyday space during the global COVID-19 pandemic, onto his expressionless faces. Each QR code serves as a link to an extreme close-up video featuring his moving mouth as he makes statements in Chinese languages or engages in whimsical activities. Spectators are encouraged to launch the video pages, position their mobile phones over the QR codes, and thereby complete the missing parts of his portraits by ‘lending’ their devices to the artist. The body of work facilitates a temporary yet intimate interaction between the artist and spectators, physical and virtual spaces, and illustrates our interconnectedness within an evolving hybrid environment.

CREDITS
Adam Hsieh (concept development/art direction/production)

MATERIALS
Digital colour inkjet printing on paper

DIMENSIONS
29.7cm (L) x 42cm (H) x 3 (unframed)

EXHIBITION
electronic erotica (2023). Good Grief Studios, nipaluna/Hobart, Australia. 17 Nov - 5 Dec 2023.