DSL Magazine: Issue 11

13 Cao Fei (b. 1978) grew up during China’s reform and opening-up period, and is an early adopter of the internet who pioneered the integration of digital media into her artistic practice. Fascinated by Surrealism and its social commentary on popular aesthetics, Cao’s early work utilizes video, multimedia installations, computer games and Second Life to explore the urban and cultural explosion characterizing 2000s China. In terms of both themes and aesthetics, her early works are inspired by global pop culture phenomena like MTV and Japanese cosplay, which trickled into China during the 80s and the 90s as the country opened up. The economic experiments of the Pearl River Delta (Cao’s native region) - also influence her work, complementing global themes and pop culture references with elements of Chinese history and urban development. RMB City (2007-2009) RMB City is a fictional Chinese city that was conceived in 2007 as an experimental creative space for Cao Fei and her collaborators to test the boundaries of physical and virtual experiences through multimedia performances on the social online platform Second Life. RMB City was launched in 2008 and opened to the public in 2009. Named after China’s currency (the renminbi RMB) and clearly composed of fantastical reimaginings of iconic areas of Beijing, RMB City functioned as a virtual laboratory for Cao and her collaborators to investigate new concepts in art, film, literature, design, architecture, politics and society. The virtual city existed entirely inside Second Life, but it was financed by supportive collectors and leading art institutions. Outputs from RMB City include films and videos chronicling the development of the virtual city and various experiences made there, countless screenshots and digital prints, a theatrical performance called RMB City Opera (2009), as well as documentation and insights into China Tracy, Cao’s virtual avatar who was born in and remained an active member of RMB City. 曹斐 Cao Fei