“Dandelion” by Ling Zhao, Zhengwu Gu
Title:
Artist(s) and People Involved:
Filmmaker, Video Artist, or Animator(s):
- Ling Zhao
-
- Ringling College
- Zhengwu Gu
-
- Ringling College
Symposium:
Venue(s):
Artist Statement:
In a coal mine, a group of coal-burning robots harnesses energy to sustain a sprawling industrial city floating in the sky through long pipes on their back. One day, amidst the coal mine, a curious little robot stumbles upon something unusual – a dandelion. Fascinated, the robot places it into his chest furnace, and the flames disperse the dandelion into a flurry of seeds.
Mesmerized by the airborne dandelion seeds, the robot tries to catch them, but repeated mishaps result in the seeds perishing one by one. Frustration overwhelms the little robot, and he kneels in despair. Suddenly, the last remaining dandelion seed brushes past his shoulder, drifting into the distance. The robot stands up, chasing after it, dragging the pipe, the city, and all the other robots behind him.
The infuriated city opens fire on the little robot, damaging his limbs, furnace, and eyes, but this doesn’t deter his determination. Ultimately, as the dandelion seed approaches the edge of a cliff above the mine shaft, the robot reaches out and grasps it. He presents the dandelion seed to the city, but the heartless city responds with artillery fire, sending the robot plummeting off the cliff.
Descending, the little robot is enveloped by a radiant white light below the cliff. Unbeknownst to it, in the valley beneath, lies a vast dandelion field. The robot crashes into the sea of dandelions, creating massive waves of dandelion fluff. These dandelions ascend, gradually engulfing and cocooning the city.
