[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.50,0:00:02.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(airy music)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.08,0:00:10.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- I believe artworks are self-portraits.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.40,0:00:22.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is really difficult not to\Ncarry yourself in the works.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.70,0:00:33.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As artists, we tear ourselves\Napart and reassemble it
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.93,0:00:38.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in every piece that we are\Ncreating and recreating.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.34,0:00:41.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(airy music continues)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.92,0:01:02.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started as an engineer\Nbasically because I was a student
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.70,0:01:04.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was good at math and physics.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.49,0:01:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Art later came into my life
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.36,0:01:12.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the pure pleasure of creating
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.16,0:01:15.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,got me quite addicted.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.84,0:01:22.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I grew up in the northwest part of China
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.20,0:01:24.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the city that is called Karamay.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.33,0:01:28.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It means black oil in Uyghur\Nlanguage, our local language.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.04,0:01:35.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My grandparents' generation\Nimmigrated to that area
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.64,0:01:38.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,under the state order to\Ndevelop a city digging oils.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.37,0:01:45.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have this memory of\Ncelebrating oil in my hometown.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.27,0:01:47.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the families working on oil
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.91,0:01:50.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will get this souvenirs from the city.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.49,0:01:51.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It looks like a pyramid,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.99,0:01:53.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in the middle of it,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.01,0:01:55.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is a drop of actual crude oil.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.85,0:02:01.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to kind of create like\Na magnified version of that,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.08,0:02:03.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but then at the same time, the bottom
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.12,0:02:07.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the entire work would\Nbe a fountain of oil.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.55,0:02:11.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(motor humming)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.45,0:02:16.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I kind of like the air bubble one.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.06,0:02:18.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel it's more lively, or\Nif I really want a lot of air,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.99,0:02:22.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just let the tube expose to the air.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.76,0:02:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(liquid gurgling)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.30,0:02:34.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want it to have this\Nmotion inside the oil pan,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.47,0:02:37.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,giving this sentient existence.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.23,0:02:41.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not just a passive\Nmaterial to be extracted.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.19,0:02:45.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a living being\Nbeneath the earth's crust
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.15,0:02:47.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and transforming the world above it
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.73,0:02:50.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with terror and lots of violence.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.00,0:02:55.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(airy music)\N(liquid dripping)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.78,0:03:13.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Growing up in a town that\Nessentially was built
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.98,0:03:18.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by immigrants within China,\NI felt very much connected
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.32,0:03:23.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the idea of going to\Na place for its resource,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.28,0:03:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creating generations and\Nprosperity in that sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.48,0:03:35.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That entire idea is parallel\Nto space exploration,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.46,0:03:38.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is a big part of my practice,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.43,0:03:42.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the idea of people traveling\Nso far going to another planet
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.51,0:03:46.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,felt like what my\Ngrandparents' generation did,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.14,0:03:47.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they were in their 20s.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.48,0:03:51.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(rocket humming)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.19,0:03:56.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started working on space exploration
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.04,0:03:59.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I was a grad\Nstudent in MIT Media Lab.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.24,0:04:02.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I submitted the proposal and made a robot
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.97,0:04:06.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that carried my tooth and went to space.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.67,0:04:14.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was launched as a research project,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.85,0:04:17.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but for me, it is really\Na performance piece.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.20,0:04:21.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want a part of me to go to space.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.69,0:04:26.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to create an avatar\Nthat enabled that journey.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.06,0:04:34.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- We count down, the rocket\Nblazes, engines pulse.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.61,0:04:39.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now we sing like birds\Nbreathing cedar air.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.07,0:04:43.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are made of dust and light.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.85,0:04:47.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(ethereal music)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.79,0:04:56.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- There's something about expedition.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.37,0:05:00.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's very beautiful, very glorious,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.30,0:05:05.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but at the same time, it's\Na very lonely journey often.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.12,0:05:08.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Going to Beijing for college
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.88,0:05:11.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and going to the United\NStates for grad school,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.52,0:05:14.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was trying to arrive at\Nsomewhere for a better life,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.79,0:05:17.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but then that journey is just pulling me
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.07,0:05:18.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,further away from my home.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.85,0:05:28.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think as humanity,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.31,0:05:32.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are imagining all\Nthis version of futures
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.76,0:05:36.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of living on another\Nplanet, or living with AI.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.54,0:05:40.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I feel like as you're\Nleaving your current place,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.35,0:05:45.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some part of yourself died and shed away.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.46,0:05:53.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is this inevitable death
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.09,0:05:58.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that happens along with the\Ngrowth that we so desire for.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.04,0:05:59.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that happens along with the\Ngrowth that we so desire for.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.38,0:06:20.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am thinking a lot about\Nmy own reproduction.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.56,0:06:24.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nowadays, I'm at that age,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.60,0:06:25.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people are just telling me,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.54,0:06:27.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Oh, you should freeze your eggs.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.30,0:06:29.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don't even think too much about it."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.49,0:06:37.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have a level of alienation\Nand fear over that process.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.90,0:06:40.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(gentle music)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.64,0:06:48.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Reproduction technologies claim\Nto solve all the problems,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.57,0:06:51.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in fact dramatically change our body.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.89,0:07:00.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We freeze time in this biological machine
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.50,0:07:06.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we need to get a better\Ncareer, we need to go study,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.00,0:07:08.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we haven't found a good partner yet.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.43,0:07:10.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt like it's all about productivity,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.06,0:07:15.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether time is useful or not useful.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.86,0:07:24.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm making this collection\Nof objects and sculptures
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.18,0:07:29.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about this fear, referencing\Nlots of bone structures,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.94,0:07:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they're all warped and twisted
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.86,0:07:34.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as I imagine how our body would change
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.53,0:07:36.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through these experiences.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.30,0:07:42.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm cooling down the\Nsculpture to a low temperature,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.54,0:07:43.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they're gonna freeze,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.98,0:07:47.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kind of having frost\Ngrowing on the sculpture.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.13,0:07:53.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(dark ethereal music)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.48,0:08:23.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do believe in science and technology,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.88,0:08:26.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in lots of its methods,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.01,0:08:28.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and its ability to transform the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.67,0:08:36.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But at the same time, I'm\Nhoping there is a limit,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.93,0:08:38.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can never reach,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.97,0:08:42.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it also strips away\Nthis kind of fundamental idea
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.99,0:08:45.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of what it means to be human.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.07,0:08:54.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this calibrated and measured world,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.36,0:08:59.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,art allows beauty and emotions\Nto be part of the process.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.33,0:09:00.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,art allows beauty and emotions\Nto be part of the process
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.53,0:09:05.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(dark ethereal music continues)