Chang Meng
About
Chang Meng (Joanne) is a multidisciplinary artist, adeptly navigating the expansive domains of visual art, sound, moving image, and multi-materials combined installation. With a background in classical music , Chang Meng's work blurs the lines between disciplines and builds bridges between visual and sound communication, resulting in engaging and resonating with individuals on both emotional and intellectual planes.
Recognizing the inherent contrast between abstract conceptual themes and their connection to everyday experiences, Chang Meng passionately strives to captivate and immerse viewers within the intricate narratives of her art. By forging dynamic collaborations with scientists, programmers, musicians, and fellow artists, she artfully combines their collective genius, embarking on bold explorations of new artistic frontiers.
Her artistic focus primarily revolves around topics such as Soundscape, Nature, Anthropocentrism, Spatiotemporality, and Shared Perception. She explores these themes through the innovative utilization of algorithms, AI, and programming, enabling her to delve deeper into the realms of art and provoke new perspectives.
Statement
By blending scientific data, artistic expression, and interactive technology, "Epoch" aims to create a profound and sombre narrative that confronts the ecological consequences of climate change. It invites viewers to reflect upon the ephemeral nature of vibrant coral soundscapes and the disconcerting biodiversity loss they symbolize. Through this immersive encounter, it beckons them to witness the intricate shifts and mourn the fading harmony of underwater life, thereby deepening their comprehension of the irreversible loss caused by climate change.
In next stage, the project will progressively incorporate the creation of performable sculptures intricately related to the Gamelan tradition. Analogous to the Ocean to Indonesia project, Gamelan assumes a distinctive and essential function within Indonesian ritualistic practices and ceremonies, rendering it an ideal collaborator in advancing awareness through this endeavour. Through establishing an interrelation between indigenous musical culture and the local ecological system, the project seeks to augment emotional involvement, enhance public consciousness pertaining to the urgent matter of global warming, and motivate individuals to undertake tangible measures towards mitigating its ramifications. (Updated progress is coming in the artist’s website.)
Photo by Kimmi Lin
Epoch - soundscape fossils
Epoch - Soundscape fossil (work in progress)
Epoch is an immersive project that delves into the poignant transformation of coral reefs in the Anthropocene era amidst the pervasive impact of climate change. Combined with the sculptures, sound designs, and moving images, Epoch employs a multi-sensory approach to recreate the lost soundscape of coral reefs and aims to engross the audience and foster an emotional connection. As sentinel ecosystems, coral reefs exhibit both resilience and vulnerability, bearing witness to the profound repercussions that unfold. With their once-vibrant soundscapes fading into melancholic silence, mirroring the diminishing underwater biodiversity.
The project acknowledges the scientific community's use of soundscapes as a means to detect the health status of coral reefs. Informed by empirical evidence, the audio records used in the project originate from scientific research conducted by British marine biologists in the Indonesia area. By employing Python programming, the project translates the acoustic data into visual and auditory experiences, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the sonic world of coral reefs. The choice of 3D ceramic printing is deliberate, as it mimics the gradual layering process akin to the formation of fossils over time. Unlike traditional 3D printing processes, the collaboration between myself and the 3D ceramic printing machine in Epoch creates a unique dynamic. Each layer of the sculpture undergoes pre-determined accurate data translation, but it is also accompanied by manual adjustments. This interplay adds a sense of tension, vitality, and beauty to the final creation. The result is that every fossil sculpture produced is distinctive, embodying its own character and irreplaceable qualities.
By embracing the imperfections and inherent unpredictability of manual adjustments, Epoch celebrates the essence of individuality and uniqueness. Each sculpture serves as a testament to the passage of time and the fragility of once-thriving acoustic ecosystems. Additionally, digital monuments stand as symbolic representations of grief and remembrance. With the aid of digital technology, the project breathes life into these sculptures, allowing viewers to experience and interact with the soundscape of healthy coral reefs, creating a poignant juxtaposition with the present-day reality of decline.
Scientific support: Dr. Ben Williams, Dr. Timothy Lamont
Credit and special thanks to Dr. Ben Williams and Dr. Timothy Lamont (original audio records and video)
Programming support: Yiyao Wei
Medium: Porcelain
Size: 40cm*40cm*20cm
Epoch - Immersive scenes
Medium: projection, Immersive scenes
Epoch Performance - Dance Theatre of Listening
Epoch Performance - Dance Theatre of Listening
2023, Dance Theatre of Listening
Dance Theatre of Listening is a collaborative performance that features dancers gracefully moving between sculptures and engaging with the audience. Handheld mini-moving speakers would create an immersive experience where the underwater soundscape envelops the ears of the spectators. The integration of sound and movement in this production aims to embody a harmonious fusion, providing an immersive and captivating experience for the audience. (Additional photographs will soon be made available on the artist's website)
Art Director: Chang Meng
Choreographer: Yijun Deng
Sound Producer: Sane Hansen
Special thanks: Sophie Clements, Nell Catchpole, MAP/Making Program
Medium: Dance Theatre of Listening
Echoes of the Abyss
2023, Echoes of the Abyss
HD Live Generative Image, Stereo Sound, Projection, Laser, Synthesisers, Approx 10:00
Echoes of the Abyss is an interdisciplinary audio-visual performance that immerses the audience in the enchanting underwater soundscape, using an open-source audio live stream captured by hydrophones at a deep-sea cabled observatory. Through the transformative power of artificial intelligence, the project reveals the hidden sounds and unseen images from the ocean depths, inviting the audience to perceive the world through the lens of sound. By blending improvisational techniques in music, coding, and visual art, we hope to transcend performance boundaries. The project aims to cultivate appreciation for the intricate sonic landscapes of the oceans and raise awareness about the need to protect aquatic life from noise pollution and other human-induced threats. Through reflection and advocacy, Echoes of the Abyss seeks to inspire responsible stewardship and preservation of our fragile underwater ecosystems.
Concept: Bryan Yueshen Wu, Chang Meng, Shangyang Yu, Yiru Yan
Sound performer: Bryan Yueshen Wu, Shangyang Yu
Visual performer: Chang Meng, Yiru Yan
Project developed at: Royal College of Art Kensington
Project supported by: AiDLab, Murmur ensemble
Special thanks: Dr. Matt Lewis
Nova in St. James Church
Nova in St. James Church, 2023
Musical Instrument, Projection, Moving Image
Nova is an audio-visual concert that combines the enchanting elements of music and visuals, carefully curated to transport viewers on a journey beyond the confines of reality.
a cosmic dance of life,
a symbol of the eternal,
a moment of transformation,
a reminder of our inner light,
the spark of divinity that shines so bright.
Composer: Suting Han
Visual Artist: Chang Meng
Guitar: Gus McQuade
Accordion: Jinjie Kang
Medium: Moving image
Abberation
2023, Abberation,
Metaverse VR Game, interactive
Climate change accelerates the aberration process for non-humans. As the unstoppable creating process, it will continually produce more adaptive aberration to resilient this world. We create an aberration world through digital technology, generating an immersive experience for audiences to explore the abnormal world. All efforts aim to call for attention and action on climate change issues.
In Collaboration with:
Shangyang Yu
Changming Sun
Jiaqi Shi
Wen Shi
Sijia Chang
Medium: VR Game