AURORA , 2020
AURORA is a social experiment animation project to echo with a united vision from the people of Hong Kong.
20 HongKongers collaberated from all over the world by sticking post-its on streets, parks, transportations, etc.
BACKGROUND
2020 is a very unique experience to me. While the world is busy fighting against the pandemic, this year has a very different meaning to me.
A blank post-it represents the silent protest against the suppression of the freedom of speech.
Since the National Security Law launched on 1st July, 2020, one may face prosecution and goes to jail by years, because of what they said or wrote in Hong Kong.
It is important to voice out, even in such a risky and high-pressure political environment,
when there are more and more accusation of political crimes that are put on HongKongers despite age or gender. Despite the grim future of HongKongers, there is hope when everyone is willing to help and stay strong.
LOCATION
The final project focuses on the location of the frames that are made. I interpreted the “where” element differently from concepts like location based animation, or interactive installations. Public involvement is included during the making of the animation.
I asked participants to take pictures of post-its in different places. It can be somehow personally meaningful or have linkage to the person’s 2020 vision. Those who are in other countries take pictures in different circumstances.
The ones in the UK and United States are mostly very domestic because of the lockdown. The ones in Taiwan are taken in many outdoor areas and meaningful monuments, the ones back in Hong Kong are taken in many familiar locations that were battlefields in last year’s protest.
COMPOSITION
Apart from blank post-its, I also asked the participants to make three similar drawings of their 2020 vision, because our visions are linked by events that we experienced together.
I managed to link a participant’s vision with another one’s by drawing in-betweens to link them up.
