Installation / 1997/ Linear Cities Group (Ni Weihua, Wang Jiahao) /Shanghai
Explanatory note: As one of Linear City series, it makes use of art exhibition tickets, date, space and the audiences of'97 Chinese-Korean Art Exhibition──New Asia, New City, New Art.
The map of Shanghai was cut into twenty pieces, and every one had a code number. Every vistor to the exhibition was asked to drop his counterfoil into the corresponding ballot box at the entrance according to the area (piece) where he was from. Then the data would be added up, and other twenty pieces in the exhibition hall would be arranged from large to small twice everyday. So the vistors could see any piece arbitrarily in Linear City display on the wall.
The vistor has already done the art works when he came through the city to the exhibition hall, which constructs the seperation of space. The authors have seen the art works when the result of statistics was arranged every morning and afternoon, which constructs the seperation of time.
The event is a metaphar of position and oppisite relation. But it is more important that the works show a prediction of a new net epoch that one can make free choices in Linear City. The city’s development will be guided by the individual choosing of people.
