Du Zhenjun and Cybernetic Fantasies: Two Exhibitions Probe Human Identity
In Paris, two exhibitions delve into the limits of humanity via technology and interactive art. The Conciergerie, as part of the Festival d'Automne, is presenting a retrospective of Du Zhenjun, a Chinese-born artist at Gaîté Lyrique. This showcase includes notable works such as 'Présomption' (2000) and 'Le Radeau de la Méduse' (2001), both of which address themes of human suffering and the spectacle of media. His 2001 work, 'Une semaine dans le monde de Du Zhenjun,' offers a critique of television news. Simultaneously, from late October 2003 to late January 2004, the Maison de la Culture du Japon features 'Hommes et robots. De l'utopie à la réalité,' which includes 'Fantaisies cybernétiques' by seven artists, such as Moboru Tsubaki and Tatsuo Miyajima, exploring humanity's essence through technology.
Key facts
- Du Zhenjun retrospective at Conciergerie, Paris, as part of Festival d'Automne, organized by Gaîté Lyrique.
- Du's works use minimal interactive screens activated by viewer presence.
- 'Présomption' (2000) shows naked emaciated bodies only when a viewer is present.
- 'Le Radeau de la Méduse' (2001) depicts boat people; sirens and spotlights triggered by viewer arrival.
- 'Une semaine dans le monde de Du Zhenjun' (2001) deconstructs a week of TV news.
- Maison de la Culture du Japon hosted 'Hommes et robots' from late Oct 2003 to late Jan 2004.
- 'Fantaisies cybernétiques' featured seven artists including Moboru Tsubaki, Kazuhiko Hachiya, Tatsuo Miyajima, Masaki Fujihata, Yûgi Dôgane, Maywa Denki, Toshio Iwai, babakayo, and Kenji Yanobe.
- Kazuhiko Hachiya's 'PostPet' (1996-2003) is an email software with a virtual pet.
- Tatsuo Miyajima and Hajime Tachibana's '1000 Deathclock in Paris' (2003) lets visitors input birth and chosen death dates.
- Masaki Fujihata and Yûgi Dôgane's 'Orchisoid 03' (2003) uses orchids with sensors.
- Kenji Yanobe's 'Atom Suit Project' (2000) features a Geiger counter suit exploring Osaka '70 Expo ruins.
Entities
Artists
- Du Zhenjun
- Moboru Tsubaki
- Kazuhiko Hachiya
- Tatsuo Miyajima
- Hajime Tachibana
- Masaki Fujihata
- Yûgi Dôgane
- Maywa Denki
- Toshio Iwai
- babakayo
- Kenji Yanobe
- Pierre Bongiovanni
- Stockhausen
Institutions
- Gaîté Lyrique
- Conciergerie
- Festival d'Automne
- Maison de la Culture du Japon
- École des beaux-arts de Rennes
- E.A.T./Experiments in Art and Technology
- artpress
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Osaka
- Japan
Sources
- artpress —