Color, sound
Born in 1987 in Yunyang, a district of Chongqing, Tao Hui creates immersive video installations in which he closely examines and depicts movements that transcend geographical, cultural and identity boundaries. He explores themes such as the relationship between society and the individual, and the forgotten reality of marginalised communities.
The narratives that Tao Hui imagines for his works are based on memories, whether personal, collective or simply invented, and encourage viewers to reflect on their own social and cultural histories. In Pulsating Atom, the artist addresses the frenzy of social networking, in particular the global success of TikTok, which allows users to view, produce, reproduce and share short videos. The installation combines images of a gala singer, played by a Chinese opera singer, with film clips that have no real connection, just like the people who interact with each other through videos posted on the app. In this way, and as the title suggests, Pulsating Atom reflects the atomisation of society, and the dissonance between the increasing exchanges that take place and the growing sense of loneliness. By juxtaposing these disparate sources, Tao Hui highlights the paradox of these online productions, which offer TikTok users a simulated, ultra-connected reality in which they ultimately find themselves isolated – alone despite being surrounded by others.
Nicolas Ballet
