INTO THE FUTURE exhibition opening at Zhaoqing University

INTO THE FUTURE exhibition opening at Zhaoqing University (Zhaoqing, China) (May 16 - 19, 2006). This joint exhibition is a culmination of students at Zhaoqing University (Zhaoqing, China) and National Chengchi University (Taipei, Taiwan) working simultaneously to project into the future.

An overview of the gallery. National Chengchi University images seen far center/right with Zhaoqing University images seen left and far right. A student views the image slide show on the monitor to the left.

Students view their and their classmates' images, to the left and right. Frontispiece ... in Chinese ... seen to the
far right.

Students view Zhaoqing University images. The image to the right is an interesting, emotional outburst ... an uncertainty about this particular student's future.

A student views the image slide show with frontispiece and Zhaoqing University images beyond. The slide
show is looped with music, "Quantum TeleportationA" to establish an ambience.

Tom R. Chambers, Visiting Lecturer in Digital/New Media Art is seen talking to Professor Lu Li [Dean of the
Zhaoqing University Fine Arts Department] about the National Chengchi University images. Two design
professors are seen to the left.

A student provides coverage of the exhibition as his classmates view the Zhaoqing University images. The
image on the far-center monitor is a Flash representation [animation] of different versions of the student's
static image on the wall [seen to the right of the monitor].

Chambers talks to Dean Lu and students about this form of digital art for print exhibition. The National
Chengchi University images are seen beyond and to the right.

Students view the web page version, incorporated into the exhibition to contrast the virtual- with the real-world approach to exhibition. Zhaoqing University images are seen beyond to the right.

Students view the web page version, incorporated into the exhibition to contrast the virtual- with the real-world approach to exhibition.

Students view their and their classmates' images.

Students view National Chengchi University images.

Students view their and their classmates' images.

Design professors and students [to the left] view National Chengchi University images.

Students view their and their classmates' images.

A group photograph of Chambers with Fine Arts Department staff and class monitor [far left] for this project. Chambers' translator, Shan Shan is seen to his right. Shan Shan has been instrumental throughout the
academic year in conveying Chambers' teaching to the students. Dean Lu is seen to his left.

This project is a collaboration between students in China and Taiwan under the instruction of Tom R. Chambers at Zhaoqing University (Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China) and John Labadie at National Chengchi University (Taipei, Taiwan).
Analysis:
"According to the World Future Society [http://www.wfs.org/], the future doesn't just happen. People create it through their action ... or inaction ... today. And by studying the future, people can better anticipate what lies ahead. They can actively decide how to live in the future by making choices today and realizing the consequences of their decisions.
Opportunity as well as difficulty lies ahead, and it seems that the above students from both institutions ... Zhaoqing University and National Chengchi University ... have visually made their farsighted decisions. No one knows exactly what will happen in the future, but most of these digital considerations are an attempt to rationalize a desirable future through achievement. Within most of the works, there's a good sense of awareness of the rapidly changing world and its effect on values, attitudes and beliefs. And this fast pace of making it difficult to prepare for tomorrow is also inherent in many of the pieces.
The digital art ranges from negativism/skepticism to optimism. There seems to be more of a collective concern regarding the environment and technology with an overall serious-mindedness within the works by the Zhaoqing University art students whereas some of the works by the National Chengchi University art students border on lightheartedness and childlike approach. There is a degree of intellect that seems to be more apparent within a few of the works by the National Chengchi Univerity art students but generally, both groups of students seem to be on equal standing in terms of technical skill and application."
Tom R. Chambers
Visiting Lecturer, Digital/New Media Art
Fine Arts Department
Zhaoqing University
Zhaoqing, China
Classroom I activities and Classroom II activities