Cao Fei on prophecy, agricultural drones, and her Time 100 inclusion
Cao Fei, recognized by Time as one of the world’s 100 most influential figures in 2026, recently showcased her inaugural solo exhibition in Switzerland at Kunstmuseum Basel Gegenwart. The exhibition, titled "Testimonies to the Near Future," highlights key works like "Whose Utopia," "RMB City," and "Asia One," along with her Hip Hop series. Notably, the artwork "La Town" is said to have anticipated societal isolation during health crises. The exhibition, featuring contributions from sci-fi author Regina Kanyu Wang, continues until October 11. Additionally, her project "Dash" at Fondazione Prada examines agricultural drones and food security, concluding on September 28.
Key facts
- Cao Fei was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2026.
- Her first solo exhibition in Switzerland, 'Testimonies to the Near Future,' is at Kunstmuseum Basel Gegenwart.
- The exhibition includes works: Whose Utopia (2006), RMB City (2007-11), Asia One (2018), Nova (2019-), Oz (2022), and Hip Hop series (2003-).
- Cao says scenarios in her works have come true later, e.g., La Town (2014) predicted epidemic isolation.
- The exhibition catalogue features a text by science-fiction writer Regina Kanyu Wang.
- Cao has collaborated with sci-fi writers Han Song and Chen Qiufan.
- A concurrent project at Fondazione Prada in Milan, 'Dash,' focuses on agricultural drones from company XAG.
- The Basel show runs until 11 October; the Milan project until 28 September.
Entities
Artists
- Cao Fei
- Yoshitomo Nara
- Regina Kanyu Wang
- Han Song
- Chen Qiufan
- China Tracy
- Stephanie Seidel
- Philipp Selzer
- Alice Wilke
- Hug Yue
- Neal Stephenson
- Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
- Marguerite Duras
- Alain Resnais
- John Carpenter
- Edward Hopper
- Joan Minder
- Nisha Merit
- Italo Calvino
- Rem Koolhaas
Institutions
- Kunstmuseum Basel Gegenwart
- Fondazione Prada
- Time
- UCCA
- XAG
- Kunstmuseum Basel
- Kunstmuseum Basel | Gegenwart
- Centre Pompidou
- Serpentine Gallery
- MoMA PS1
- MAXXI
- Venice Biennale
- Biennale of Sydney
- Istanbul Biennial
- Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation
- SCAD deFINE ART
- Osram
- Siemens Art Programme
- Vitamin Creative Space
- Sprüth Magers
- NOWNESS
- Aesthetica Magazine
- Small Production, Beijing
- VernissageTV
- Jingdong Logistics
- Audemars Piguet Contemporary
- Yuanbang Mega City
- Second Life
- SLEEK
Locations
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Milan
- Italy
- China
- Southeast Asia
- Guangzhou
- Beijing
- Norway
- Pearl River Delta
- Shanghai
- New York
- Fukuoka
- Sydney
- Berlin
- Foshan
- Kunshan
- Jiangsu Province
- Manzhouli
- Inner Mongolia
- Singapore
- United States
- Australia
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Moscow
- Russia
- Europe
- Taiwan