In a serious technophile environment like Hong Kong, some reservation about the usefulness and economic significance of new technologies is hardly misplaced. In different ways, the CD-ROM projects of Phil Shek and Bryan Chung reflect the role of technology in their immediate living environment. In 'Over the Top', Shek poses critical questions about the rapidly increasing technologization of education. Not only are schools becoming more and more equipped with the latest computer technology with computer education playing an increasingly important role, the whole institution of school is up for discussion. In a highly personal exploration of his own experience, Shek attempts to establish the value of growing up at school. In a series of QuickTime VR-panoramas, he provides access to flashbacks from his youth. As a result, he contrasts virtual learning (also presented to us here through the medium of the CD-ROM) with his memories of social learning. Can the virtual transfer of experiences even approach personally experienced events? The search for knowledge is an essential element of memories of growing up. Can a computer emulate these memories? In contrast to Shek's subdued memories – pleasantly navigable with his scrollable landscapes – Chung offers maximum resistance from his narrative interfaces in 'Y2K and the Millennium Butterflies'. In a modern interpretation of a traditional Chinese folk tale, Chung undermines the perception of conventional interfaces and in so doing, the ideology at its very core. Hong Kong, a city that arose from the interests of government and big business, is driven by such principles as effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. Chung continually plays a subversive game with the fact that middle-class mentality becomes the norm even with the new technologies. In a complete media-mix, from radio and Chinese opera to knowbots and game, and against the backdrop of the controversial millennium change, Chung allows the user to find his or her way through an absurdly meandering story. You are confronted by stubborn and treacherous interfaces, reversals of standard conventions and the necessity of playing along with Chung's little game. Follow that bug!
– Geert-jan Strengholt |
'Over the Top' by Phil Shek
'Y2K and the Millennium Butterflies' by Bryan Chung
Production: Hong Kong Arts Centre
Bryan Chung, 1964, Hong Kong (China)
Phil Shek, 1974, China
Live and work in Hong Kong (China)
|
|
2 0 0 0 
