tian jiang

Leap motion, Unity3D

80×60 inches (203.2× 152.4cm)  

Selected to be part of Passage Exhibition at Stuart & Co Gallery in Chicago, IL.

This virtual world build in Unity3D. In this dream world, viewers go through different passage to experience different space and time by waving hand and using  body language to interactive with the video projection.

As take a time travel, viewers could immerse themselves within a surreal 3D scene.

I created a ruined liminal space, a world that is an exploration of digital fictional space and a new social structure of a future utopia, in which data and information fracture to form their own otherworldly world. The latitude and chronological order of space can be freely transformed. I use different 3D objects as an index for information flow and traversal of different stories. And the narrative was unfold in the image of future artificial intelligence. The information which reorganize and regenerate to produce new different worlds.

This project will emphasize recreating, reconstructing and envisioning new social models from social perspective. By entering different narrative spaces to review historical information from a first perspective and explore the possibilities of future spatial development, the audience will aim to identify the impact of our real social life and technological innovation on people and how to face this change.

In Echoes of Fragmented City, players journey through dreamlike landscapes that weave together memory, culture, and urban transformation. The protagonist, Tian, explores two contrasting cities: Beijing, shaped by rapid modernization and the erasure of its historical neighborhoods, and Buffalo, a post-industrial city marked by quiet decline. Guiding the journey is TianTian, an AI representation of Tian’s childhood self, who serves as both a companion and a gateway to lost memories. Through dynamic dialogue and fragmented recollections, players unlock pieces of disappearing cultures while reflecting on how environments shape behavior and identity. The game explores the subjective nature of memory and how digital tools reconstruct identity in a world of constant change, inviting players to delve into the deep connections between the self and the cities we inhabit.

“Fluid” is a wearable WiFi sniffer that explores the dynamic realm of surveillance data captured through the ESP8266 sniffer, interpreting it as a process of information collection and filtering. This dynamic suggests an interactive exchange between individuals, society, and technology, metaphorically reflecting how institutions collect and filter data through media such as the Internet in everyday life.

Inspired by China’s censorship Golden Shield program, this wearable WiFi sniffer visualizes network monitoring and data collection through a live performance. By wearing this device and walking through a WiFi-covered space, the data flowing in the environment can be detected in real-time, such as the distance between the IP addresses of electronic devices and other data points. Different data types are identified by various colors of NeoPixel lights.

The project aims to examine the power held by institutions that capture and monitor information through ESP8266, extending its reach into physical spaces to visualize invisible data surveillance in people’s lives. Using Arduino programming, the device filters data into four main types: data, control, beacon, and management, displayed in blue, pink, yellow, and green respectively. Through these lights, the flow of data is visualized, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in exploring the impact of censorship on social discourse.

The visual aspect of the project expresses the dynamic process of data information through silver metal and plastic fluid accessories with NeoPixels. Heat-shrinkable sheet material shapes the flowing transparent headdress, fixed on a wire structure to reflect the transparency and flow of information. The NeoPixels are welded together and combined with the accessories to create the illusion and filtering of light, visualizing data information. The metallic accessories are made of practical crystal clay material, shaped into a fluid texture to echo the dynamic process of monitoring and filtering data, while being convenient for the wearer.

"Gin Gin" intricately unfolds in three compelling chapters, immersing viewers into the intricacies of Gin Gin's life—her name, her hometown, and her family. The narrative predominantly revolves around the dynamic exchanges between three pivotal characters: Ms. Ren (Gin Gin), a proud first-generation immigrant hailing from Fujian, China, and the esteemed proprietor of Gin Gin Restaurant; Ms. Ren’s husband, a second-generation immigrant who, following his father's footsteps, migrated from Hong Kong to the United States, establishing a life with Madame Ren. He is the collaborator in running the restaurant, grapples with the nuances of a complex cultural legacy while navigating his responsibilities. And Tian, a Ph.D. student, unexpectedly emerges as the connective thread weaving their stories together.

Set against the backdrop of Buffalo, the location of the Gin Gin restaurant holds profound cultural significance for Ms. Ren and her husband. The documentary captures this pivotal moment, delving into their experiences through Ms. Ren’s heartfelt oral accounts and offering a meticulous analysis of their journey. As the narrative unfolds, it vividly paints the tapestry of their lives, unveiling a universal quest for identity, the striking cultural contrasts they encounter, and the shared pursuit of the elusive American dream.

2014

interactive digital media, wall-mounted framed LCD screen  

12.5×10.5 inches (31.7×26.6 cm)

Selected to be part of Fantastic Art China exhibition at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York

This piece was inspired by the festival of China’s National Day. During the holiday, Tiananmen Square in Beijing are decorated in a festive theme. (flowers and bright colors are used in celebration)

By using Unity3D, “Celebration” allowed viewers interactive with this virtual “painting” and explore the illusion of lights and colors in visual way.

2014

electronic book for iPad  

12.5×10.5 inches(31.7×26.6 cm)

2014

electronic book for iPad  

12.5×10.5 inches(31.7×26.6 cm)