Astria Suparak: Asian futures, without Asians
Title:
- Asian futures, without Asians
Artist(s) and People Involved:
Exhibiting Artist(s):
Symposium:
- ISEA2020: 26th International Symposium on Electronic Art
- More artworks from ISEA2020:
Creation Year:
- 2020 - ongoing
Medium:
- Various forms, including a video, illustrated presentations, digital projects, and visual essays
Artist Statement:
Asian futures, without Asians is a visual analysis of 40+ years of American science fiction cinema. It draws from the histories of art, architecture, design, fashion, film, food, and weaponry. The multipart research project analyses how white Western sci-fi filmmakers depict futures inflected by Asian culture but devoid of actual Asian people. With coronavirus fears manifesting in irrational anti-Asian racism and conspiracy theories, this selection of images highlights how an old, xenophobic trope has persisted over two centuries.