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Still of video titled ‘Geomancer’. A computer-drawn image with a background of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands under a blue sky. At the front above the sea is a floating transparent Go board, below which are semi-transparent stones floating like air bubbles, and a satellite with flame bursting from its top.

Sinofuturism and Geomancer

Details
Programme: Techno Sapiens
Director: Lawrence Lek
Format: Digital / 108 min.
Language: Multiple (with Chinese and/or English subtitles)
Audience: Everyone
Location: House 1, House 2
Accessibility: Wheelchair
More Info:

Ticket Information
Standard: HKD 85
Concession: HKD 68

The film contains flashing effects that may trigger photosensitive epilepsy and discomfort. Viewer discretion is advised.

Still of video titled ‘Geomancer’. A computer-drawn image with a background of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands under a blue sky. At the front above the sea is a floating transparent Go board, below which are semi-transparent stones floating like air bubbles, and a satellite with flame bursting from its top.

Sinofuturism and Geomancer

Popular science fiction works of the twentieth century placed the world of the future in contemporary times, but what kind of future do artists imagine today?

For the last six years, digital artist Lawrence Lek has created an interconnected series of video games, installations, and films that form part of the same ever-expanding cinematic universe. His works address the cultural impact of technological development, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in East Asia.

Sinofuturism (1839–2046 AD), 2016, is a radical, speculative nonfiction that combines science fiction, documentary melodrama, social realism, and cosmology. By embracing seven key stereotypes of Chinese society—Computing, Copying, Gaming, Studying, Addiction, Labour, and Gambling—the film frames China’s technological development as a form of AI. Set in Singapore in 2065, Geomancer (2017) is a coming-of-age fantasy fiction about the creative awakening of an AI weather satellite that longs to become an artist. What happens when an emotionally aware AI gains the power of self-expression, and when creative genius is no longer in the domain of humanity?

The screening on 3 March will be followed by a post-screening talk in English with Lawrence Lek via video call. The talk will be moderated by M+ Curator of Moving Image Ulanda Blair.

Still of video title ‘Sinofuturism (1839–2046 AD)’. A computer-drawn image of a brightly lit tunnel with a train whizzing by, leaving a blurry image. At the centre of the image is red black gradient colour texts in English and Simplified Chinese that reads ‘Sinofuturism’.

Lawrence Lek. Sinofuturism (1839 - 2046 AD), 2016. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video title ‘Sinofuturism (1839–2046 AD)’. Three overlapping images of different sizes. The bottom layer is a photo of trees with yellow foliage. The middle layer is a photo of a bright spacious white room. The top layer is a computer-drawn image of a glass architecture. At the centre of the image is red black gradient colour texts in English and Simplified Chinese that reads ‘Computing’.

Lawrence Lek. Sinofuturism (1839 - 2046 AD), 2016. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video title ‘Sinofuturism (1839–2046 AD)’. Three overlapping images of different sizes. The bottom layer is a photo of a beautiful scenery. The middle layer on the right is a photo of a dim computer data centre. The top layer at the centre of the image is a still from a programme of BBC, on top of which are red black gradient colour texts in English and Simplified Chinese that reads ‘Copy’.

Lawrence Lek. Sinofuturism (1839 - 2046 AD), 2016. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video titled ‘Geomancer’. A computer-drawn image of a dark boundless wavy sea, in which lies grid lines of a Go board. White stones on it glows like a hot piece of metal. A glowing stone floats in the air, illuminating the sea and the low rain clouds. The subtitle reads, ‘Paradise only lasted for a year after Deep Blue Monday’.

Lawrence Lek. Geomancer, 2017. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video titled ‘Geomancer’. A computer-drawn image of the universe full of stars, where a satellite is not that far from the Earth. The sun in the distance is glowing with warm yellow light. The subtitle reads, ‘If I had a voice I would sing’.

Lawrence Lek. Geomancer, 2017. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video titled ‘Geomancer’. A computer-drawn image of a nebula in the universe, in front of which is a tubular satellite shooting three beams of warm yellow light. The subtitle reads, ‘Fate is not fair’.

Lawrence Lek. Geomancer, 2017. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video title ‘Sinofuturism (1839–2046 AD)’. A computer-drawn image of a brightly lit tunnel with a train whizzing by, leaving a blurry image. At the centre of the image is red black gradient colour texts in English and Simplified Chinese that reads ‘Sinofuturism’.

Lawrence Lek. Sinofuturism (1839 - 2046 AD), 2016. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video title ‘Sinofuturism (1839–2046 AD)’. Three overlapping images of different sizes. The bottom layer is a photo of trees with yellow foliage. The middle layer is a photo of a bright spacious white room. The top layer is a computer-drawn image of a glass architecture. At the centre of the image is red black gradient colour texts in English and Simplified Chinese that reads ‘Computing’.

Lawrence Lek. Sinofuturism (1839 - 2046 AD), 2016. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video title ‘Sinofuturism (1839–2046 AD)’. Three overlapping images of different sizes. The bottom layer is a photo of a beautiful scenery. The middle layer on the right is a photo of a dim computer data centre. The top layer at the centre of the image is a still from a programme of BBC, on top of which are red black gradient colour texts in English and Simplified Chinese that reads ‘Copy’.

Lawrence Lek. Sinofuturism (1839 - 2046 AD), 2016. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video titled ‘Geomancer’. A computer-drawn image of a dark boundless wavy sea, in which lies grid lines of a Go board. White stones on it glows like a hot piece of metal. A glowing stone floats in the air, illuminating the sea and the low rain clouds. The subtitle reads, ‘Paradise only lasted for a year after Deep Blue Monday’.

Lawrence Lek. Geomancer, 2017. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video titled ‘Geomancer’. A computer-drawn image of the universe full of stars, where a satellite is not that far from the Earth. The sun in the distance is glowing with warm yellow light. The subtitle reads, ‘If I had a voice I would sing’.

Lawrence Lek. Geomancer, 2017. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

Still of video titled ‘Geomancer’. A computer-drawn image of a nebula in the universe, in front of which is a tubular satellite shooting three beams of warm yellow light. The subtitle reads, ‘Fate is not fair’.

Lawrence Lek. Geomancer, 2017. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

About the Artist

Lawrence Lek (b. 1982, Frankfurt), one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation, specialises in virtual reality and simulation. He creates site-specific virtual worlds and speculative films using video game software, 3D animation, and original music. Probing the relationship between politics, technology, and cultural production, Lek’s works contemplate the future of humanity, the nature of intelligence, and the ethics of non-human existence. In 2021, he received the Hyundai VH Award for digital art.

Image at top: Lawrence Lek. Geomancer, 2017. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London

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