I can't fish, but I’m a good fisherman
Chelsea College, London, UK; October 4, 2023
I entered the gallery space wearing my suit. The space was arranged to resemble my everyday working environment: my desk and chair, along with the familiar clutter—books, pill bottles, food, a lamp, a laptop, and a VR headset connected to a large monitor.
I sat at the desk, removed all my clothes, and placed them neatly into a desk drawer. I then put on the VR headset, took control of my in-game avatar, changed its appearance from a virtual suit into a flamboyant outfit, and began playing a game titled VR Fishing. Within the game, I was transported to a beach in Korea, where I started fishing. In less than twenty minutes, I caught six fish.
Afterwards, I changed my avatar back into a suit, exited the game, dressed myself again in the physical space, and left the gallery.
I have never been to Korea, and I have never caught a fish successfully.
我穿着西装进入展览空间。空间被布置成我日常的工作环境:一张书桌、一把椅子,以及桌面上熟悉而杂乱的物件——书籍、药瓶、食物、台灯、笔记本电脑,以及一套连接着大型显示器的 VR 设备。
我坐在书桌前,脱下所有衣物,并将它们整齐地塞进抽屉里。随后戴上 VR 眼镜,操控游戏中的角色,将其外观从虚拟的西装切换为一套夸张的服装,开始游玩一款名为《VR Fishing》的游戏。在游戏中,我被带到了一处位于韩国的海滩,并开始钓鱼。在不到二十分钟的时间里,我钓到了六条鱼。
之后,我将虚拟角色重新换回西装,退出游戏,在现实空间中重新穿好衣服,并离开展览空间。
我从未去过韩国,也从未成功钓上过一条鱼。
RELICS:
Whitechapel Gallery Books: Utopia and The Sublime;
Pill bottles;
Sex education book Position of the Day;
Monitor;
Uneaten omelette;
Lamp;
HP laptop;
Meta Quest 2 VR headset;
Wallet;
Office desk and chair;
Drawers.
Photo: Mali Liu