The Ministry of Culture announced on May 10 that four teams have been selected to explore the theme of post-pandemic "New Normal (非日常)," under the ministry's "Arts and Technology Creative Innovation and Consulting Project (科技藝術實驗創新及輔導推動計畫)," aimed at promoting experimental projects of cross-domain creation by art and technological teams. They are namely Ting-Tong Chang Studios (張碩尹工作室), Tien Zi-ping (田子平), Shih Yi-shan (施懿珊), and NANONANO.
The MOC stated in a press release that the four selected teams interpret the notion of "New Normal" through entirely different art forms and approaches, including folk culture, traditional Chinese medicine, mechanical violence, theater performances, online social interaction, digital power, visual impact and urban scenes.
Ting-Tong Chang Studios' "Luanshengmiao, Moniangfa, and Hongxianren (孿生廟、默娘髮、與鴻仙人)" examines the notion from the angle of traditional Chinese medical culture, and uses "scent" to connect body, senses, ghosts, and spiritual world through installation and performance.
Tien Zi-ping's "Weightlessness Project- Chapter New Normal" captures the strength and beauty found in experimental performance and percussion device, and, interpreted with dance postures, explores human experience amidst the pandemic and technological experience through physical and sensory experiences.
Shih Yi-shan's "Memory War (記憶戰爭)" observes the online community environment, utilizing algorithm to interfere with the memory scenes of social media, experimenting changes of human memory in an attempt to counter the manipulation of governmental and digital media forces.
NANONANO's Heterotopia is built on last year's processing technology for developing nano-material images in creating illusory micro-landscapes with real-world samples and opening up a dialogue with the world in which they are collected.
The project's organizer Escher Tsai (蔡宏賢) noted that technological art is no longer simply encompassed by technology or art. In light of the pandemic's impact on human civilization, it is necessary to think more comprehensively about the experimental implications of technological art.
The theme "New Normal" is aimed at delving into the changes to everyday life caused by the pandemic, and through technological art, reflecting how human civilization, confronting the pandemic, can adapt and develop.