Land of Illusions (VR version on Sansar) (2021)
Mediums: Online Virtual Reality Platform, 3D modeling, interactive design
In early 2021, Lily Honglei unveiled the construction of VR Art Village, a unique immersive experience reflecting the artists’ personal, cultural and creative journeys, on Social VR platform Sansar. “In VR Art Village, the DSL Collection of Chinese contemporary art is housed in a setting that is in itself an artwork commenting upon societal changes in China, providing a contextual backdrop for the artworks created during the periods from 1980s onwards.” Lily Honglei stated. Visit the project website for more info.
ART COMMUNITY GARDEN (2021)
Mediums: Online Virtual Reality Platform, 3D modeling, interactive design
The Art Community Garden is an essential extension of VR Art Village designed to connect artists, scholars, art institutions and collectors alike. “At the Art Community Garden, we come from all corners of the world and meet through our creative work, grow and thrive together by sharing our artistic visions.” Much beyond an Online art gallery or virtual museum, Art Community Garden is a living space for the makers and builders – a metaverse where the power of creativity transcends many boundaries. The space features both artist projects & art collections from institutions. Visit project website for more info.
SHADOW PLAY: TALES OF URBANIZATION IN CHINA (2014-2020)
Mediums: Online Virtual World Platform, Augmented Reality, Animation, Shadow Play Motif,
Oil Paintings on Canvas
Weaving three interfaces, namely virtual reality (VR) in cyberspace, augmented reality (AR) on mobile phones and a series of paintings, the project visualizes the metamorphosis brought about by urbanization process in China. With a retrospective into the past through time-honored imagery of shadow play and a reflection of the present through immersion in the realities of modern China, we seek to present stories of everyday people impacted by a historic social transformation to the conscience of a worldwide audience.
THE SUNKEN GARDEN (2018-present)
Mediums: Online Virtual World Platform, Augmented Reality, Animation, Oil Paintings on Canvas
Portraying endangered species in New York state and beyond, The Sunken Garden is an interdisciplinary art project integrating painting and emerging technologies to reflect upon our relationship with nature. The project is currently in progress.
LAND OF ILLUSIONS (2006-2013)
Mediums: Online Virtual World Platform, Animation
Land of Illusion reconstitutes Chinese history and culture, collapses past, present, and future into an amalgamation reflecting on relevant issues in China. The work interweaves Chinese folkloric traditions and globalization, superimposes its glorious past and elements from its chaotic and contradictory present to compose a multi-layered tale about free thinking.
Cyber Museum of Contemporary Chinese Art (2009)
– Land of Illusion as a multifunctional space
Medium: Online 3D virtual world platform, virtual environment design, interactive design
Project collaborators: DSL Collection of Contemporary Chinese Art
DSL Cyber MoCCA is a collaboration between DSL Collection of Contemporary Chinese Art and artists Lily Honglei, who intend to develop highly interactive online exhibitions for contemporary art. Based on their “Land of Illusion” art project in Second Life, Lily Honglei designed DSL Cyber MoCCA utilizing cyberspace virtual world platform, digital multimedia presentations, and Online communication technologies to materialize a new concept of virtual art museum in the early 21st century. For more information about Cyber MoCCA, please click here