Good Life
Good Life is an interactive artwork that focuses on the social critique of Asian groups. As an Asian person growing up in an Asian culture, I have been feeling the pressure of social, cultural, and family expectations. People are often looking for what they call a ‘good life’ for the future, such as getting married early, being rich, raising a baby, and so on. These expectations have gradually turned into an invisible cage, restricting people's freedom to pursue the true meaning of life.
Therefore, Good Life aims to visualize these pressures, allowing the audience to interact with these invisible constraints in the experience and inspire them to break free from the excessive social and cultural interventions in their individual lives so as to realize their true pursuit and happiness.
GOOD LIFE
葛雪梅
Xuemei Ge
Interactive Art
DEC 2023
CREATION
ONE 1.
BEFORE INTERACTION:
The artwork uses bubble shapes to symbolize societal standards for happiness, such as marriage, family, and career. These bubbles, though seemingly beautiful, are fragile and easily burst, representing the fleeting and precarious nature of these expectations. AI-generated characters are displayed pursuing these ideals, their friendly but mechanical expressions highlighting the illusion of happiness and an underlying emotional numbness.
TWO 2.
HEART VISUALS
The heart-shaped device features pulsating circles that visually represent the intensity of pressure. Rapid expansion of the circles signifies increasing stress, while their contraction reflects moments of release or relief. This dynamic visual design transforms the abstract concept of pressure into something tangible, allowing viewers to empathize with the emotional burden and inner turmoil of those striving to meet societal ideals.
THREE 3.
AFTER INTERACTION
When viewers interact by squeezing the heart-shaped device, the visuals shift dramatically. The screen turns bright red, and distorted images emerge, vividly illustrating the overwhelming pressure caused by society's rigid definitions of a "good life." Vertical lines appear as metaphors for invisible cages, emphasizing the sense of confinement and struggle individuals experience under these expectations.
