INDEX — Wendi Yan

WENDI YAN

Part archive, part speculative fiction, Dream of Walnut Palaces is a 10 min CGI film reimagining knowledge exchange between China and Europe in the 18th century.
Exploring the psyche of a fictional Daoist in a Paris lab, it examines the East-West clash of epistemic visuality, and envisions an alternative to techno-Orientalism: a harmonious union of knowledge integrating Daoist metaphysics. Using game engine, 3D modeling and AI, Yan transmutes historical images and lost ideas, giving voice to “ghosts” and “orphans” of the Enlightenment.

Below are scenes from DWP in the sequential order of their appearance, with reference images and texts.

Commissioned by the 6th VH Award, Hyundai Motor Group