Lu Yang: Delusional World
Virtual Motion Capture Performance
On 11 Nov 2020, Lu Yang presented a virtual motion-capture performance as a result of a cancelled live in-person performance at Federation Square in Melbourne earlier in the year. The performance was reworked into an online performance live streamed from Shanghai in partnership with the Chronus Art Centre. Watch an interview with MetaObjects' Artistic Director, Ashley Wong discuss some of the challenges of presenting art online. The performance was supported by The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Arts Centre Melbourne, Asia TOPA, The Exhibitionist, curated by Mat Spisbah with technical development by MetaObjects. This performance is an evolution of Lu Yang’s live motion capture performances with new multi-limbed and headed characters, backgrounds and effects.
For the performance, a dancer (Qin Ran) is equipped with a Noitom motion tracking suit, where the dancers movements are mapped onto 3D avatars displayed on a large LED screen. Two webcams were set up with dynamic camera switching between the feeds and the animated scene. Music by GameFace was mixed by Extreme John who also designed the “hell'' scene. A landing page was developed with a live chat to allow for audience interaction. The performance was followed by a Q&A by the artist.
MetaObject supported the rigging of the models, technical development of in-scene camera movements and triggers and visual effects. Support was provided to promote the online performance internationally resulting in over 530 streams from Australia, Hong Kong, China, Europe, US and around the world. The project was developed remotely with teams across Shanghai, Hong Kong and Melbourne resulting in a high-energy audiovisual performance demonstrating the possibilities for dynamic online artistic experiences.
About the artist
Lu Yang is an artist who works across video, installation, animation, performance, motion capture and games. Lu Yang graduated with an MA in New Media Art from the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou. Lu Yang’s work explores existential issues about the nature of life through references to Chinese medicine, neuroscience, popular culture and religion.
Lu Yang has presented solo exhibitions at Zabludowicz Collection, London (2022), ARoS Aarhus Art Museum (2021), Spiral, Tokyo (2018), M Woods Museum, Beijing (2017), and many others. Lu Yang was selected for the Chinese Pavilion at the 2015 Venice Biennale and has featured new work in The Milk of Dreams exhibition at the 2022 Venice Biennale. Lu Yang won the BMW Art Journey award in 2019 and was selected as Deutsche Bank's Artist of the Year in 2022.