2020 was a tough year for the whole world, and the challenge is continuing. It's also an opportunity to rethink the connection between people, humankind and nature, as well as human beings and AI technology.
The Beijing Times Art Museum has collected art pieces reflecting such themes and presenting them to visitors.
Inspired by the unusual social phenomena caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibition "Empathy and Connection" seeks to reveal the unprecedented connection between people of different ethnic origins, countries and political systems.
"Throughout the year, everyone might be more aware of the concept of a community with a shared future for humankind. The exhibition is meant to convey that even though the pandemic has torn us apart and forced us to separate, the common human emotion can break through these barriers and connect us to each other and take care of each other," said Li Xiangying, director of the Beijing Times Art Museum's exhibition Department.
Artwork "Witness—You Are the One I Care About Most" by Li Ge. /CGTN
Some exhibits signal 2020 with direct signs like doctors and patients. While some reveal different lifestyles or feelings during the pandemic through animation works. The sudden strike on human beings has also triggered some artists' thoughts on their relationship with nature.
Artwork "Whispers in the Dark" by Cui Yi. /CGTN
"This is a sound installation set in a certain space. The red pipes could be metaphors for human blood vessels, or industrial society, and could also be metaphor of the fact that society is constantly moving forward. Meadows and plants in the space represent nature. Different sounds can be heard in the pipes, some from nature and some from industrial activity. The whole installation aims to explore the symbiosis between man and nature, " said Li.
An installation titled "Does AI Really Understand You?" by Hu Xiaochen, Qi Mengjie and Chen Tianyi. /CGTN
Titled "Does AI Really Understand You?" this installation captures visitors' shape through camera sensors and reveals the image through a number of social media screen prints. In an era where daily activities are mined for big data, this work explores the possibility of how to use AI in a better way.
The exhibition runs through March 7 at the Beijing Times Art Museum.
(Cover image: Artwork "The Name of Gold" by Geng Xue. /CGTN)