A new life for reused objects
Shanghai-born Hu, 29, is recognized as a rising star in new media art. His creations evolve from his mission to release as much energy as possible from each of his works through a continual process of being displayed and altered to fit the surroundings of exhibition venues. His works represent the vitality of new media art, which differs from traditional art forms such as painting, which are produced by hand and difficult to replicate.
In his exhibited work Pulp Landscape 5, Hu places dozens of everyday products inside several discarded tires to form miniature scenes, before projecting these "landscapes" onto screens.
Hu collects objects such as old toys and used tools and other objects that "seem inferior to people" from the suburbs and middle areas between cities. He repurposes these objects to stage theatrical scenes inside the tires and project them onto big screens, which somehow manage to evoke a magical, playful feeling in the viewer.
Hu's works rebuild the connection between everyday objects and people's physical desires - which he says are fulfilled "not by the so-called technology but by the sense of ease it brings".