Liu Chuang's 'Lithium Lake and Island of Polyphony' Debuts at Antenna Space

In November 2023, Liu Chuang, an artist from Shanghai, unveiled his latest three-channel video installation titled 'Lithium Lake and Island of Polyphony' at Antenna Space in Shanghai. This new work follows his earlier 40-minute project, 'Bitcoin Mining and Field Recordings of Ethnic Minorities' (2018), which received international exposure. 'Lithium Lake' explores the connection between lithium extraction for smartphone batteries and polyphonic music, incorporating performances by Lithuanian folk singers and Mbuti women. It draws inspiration from Project Cybersyn, addressing issues of water management, ecology, and referencing Steven Spielberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind.' The narrative intertwines science fiction, Buddhist tales, and critiques of human self-destructiveness, emphasizing representation and symbols of colonial exploitation. Liu references Jacques Attali regarding the evolution of representation in the mobile phone era.