Beijing exhibit highlights empathy, connection

Interesting World, Installation 2, another work that represented China at the 2019 Venice Biennale, is also featured at the show.

Created by artist Fei Jun, the work is an AI-driven interactive installation that promises each audience a unique virtual earth roaming experience.

The moment an audience appears in front of the screen, a webcam captures their appearance, expression, and clothing color, based on which the algorithm gives them an "identity" such as dancer, tourist, and songwriter.

With that new identity, despite being a bit far-fetched, the audience is then taken on a virtual tour to an unspecific place somewhere in the world to see what life is like there.

"Simply put, what my work does is recognize the atmosphere you convey and then bring you to someplace in the world where the atmosphere is similar to yours," Fei explained.

Seeing his creation as a hyperlink, Fei said that he has been exploring whether the combination of art and technology could better connect people with the rest of the world.