Virtual Revolution
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Msc2 / 2019-20
Beyond 3D
Hong Kong
VR Gaming
Individual
Arno Freeke
Beyond 3D
Hong Kong
VR Gaming
Individual
Arno Freeke
In the year between 2019 and 2020, Hong Kong has undergone one of its most ‘violent and chaotic’ days.
Since June 2019, Hong Kong has seen months of non-stop unrest with no obvious endgame. Protests began in June when millions of us stood out to oppose the evil extradition law, which would have allowed extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China. Later, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam withdrew the bill in September but refused to give ground on four other demands, which include greater democracy for the city and an independent commission into police conduct.
Amidst coronavirus, another evil law, national security law implemented on 1July 2020, our voices have always been hoping to be heard. “Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water... Be water, my friend.” This famous quote from Bruce Lee has taken on a new life as a slogan of our revolution. We are fluid. We sometimes get together very quickly and disperse very quickly. We flow through the streets and the alleys, the roads and the bridges.
If thought is the response of memory and experience, it is always old. However, life is a constant movement in relationship. When thought has been trying to capture that movement in terms of the past, it is afraid of life. Therefore, I carry the past in 2019 summer along to my life. And this, is my thought.
Hopelessly floating between nostalgia and novelty, I created this project, virtual revolution. With distance, still incredibly familiar, this is my remembrance of our solitary on that day.
Although sometimes, I do feel ashamed of getting myself away from this fact... the fact that reality has always been discouraging, I can never run away from the fact that I am a Hongkonger and I still do care. Witnessing a year of unrest, the hatred rooted in that footbridge, has been engulfing me.
After all, this is the pain of absence.
It is not the absence that causes my sorrow, but affection and care. Without love, such absences would cause us no pain. So even it is the pain, I believe it is something good and beautiful in the end of the day. Maybe there is still hope. Maybe we should stay, even time has its volition. For Hong Kong, I will stay.
‘What we need now is not to gamble our precious lives against them, but to purify and transcend our perseverance and hopes through our suffering,’ Edward Leung.
Since June 2019, Hong Kong has seen months of non-stop unrest with no obvious endgame. Protests began in June when millions of us stood out to oppose the evil extradition law, which would have allowed extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China. Later, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam withdrew the bill in September but refused to give ground on four other demands, which include greater democracy for the city and an independent commission into police conduct.
Amidst coronavirus, another evil law, national security law implemented on 1July 2020, our voices have always been hoping to be heard. “Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water... Be water, my friend.” This famous quote from Bruce Lee has taken on a new life as a slogan of our revolution. We are fluid. We sometimes get together very quickly and disperse very quickly. We flow through the streets and the alleys, the roads and the bridges.
Our tears, they hear.
Our flags, they arrest.
Our umbrella, our hands, we stand.
Their bullets, their fire, they never end.
2019 summer on this footbridge, justice was condemned.
If thought is the response of memory and experience, it is always old. However, life is a constant movement in relationship. When thought has been trying to capture that movement in terms of the past, it is afraid of life. Therefore, I carry the past in 2019 summer along to my life. And this, is my thought.
Hopelessly floating between nostalgia and novelty, I created this project, virtual revolution. With distance, still incredibly familiar, this is my remembrance of our solitary on that day.
Although sometimes, I do feel ashamed of getting myself away from this fact... the fact that reality has always been discouraging, I can never run away from the fact that I am a Hongkonger and I still do care. Witnessing a year of unrest, the hatred rooted in that footbridge, has been engulfing me.
After all, this is the pain of absence.
It is not the absence that causes my sorrow, but affection and care. Without love, such absences would cause us no pain. So even it is the pain, I believe it is something good and beautiful in the end of the day. Maybe there is still hope. Maybe we should stay, even time has its volition. For Hong Kong, I will stay.
‘What we need now is not to gamble our precious lives against them, but to purify and transcend our perseverance and hopes through our suffering,’ Edward Leung.