Insomnious Monster
Artists Statement
Since the Industrial Revolution, we have invented machines and, based on this, constructed complex industrial systems within the natural environment. In most contemporary cultural contexts, we have harnessed nature for our use. We tend to perceive industrial systems as objective separate entities, devoid of life, operating beyond the reach of the masses, and functioning ceas elessly. The industrial system and its associated natural environment have gradually demystified from the public's gaze, becoming benign and manageable. If nature before the 19th century could evoke a sense of the sublime, today's landscapes have gradually transformed into spectacles, the former invoking feelings of the sublime, the uncontrollable, and the incomprehensible fear, while the latter points people towards some safer and distant realities.
Ancient stories transformed nature into creatures of wonder. Our modern machines and landscapes are a testament to how we've reconstructed some of that mystery, making it tangible. We speak of our urban surroundings as if they have a life of their own, attributing them qualities like "breathing" or having a “heartbeat." This very personification inspired the creation of Insomnious Monster. As cities sprawl, turning complex systems into something familiar seems like our way of grounding ourselves amidst the overwhelming pace. As integral as they are, industrial scenes often feel farthest from our daily touch. While individual existence may flow and fade, machinery will continue to operate incessantly with a resounding roar, powering our shared journey's dreams and memories. Capturing these scenes feels like a sacred experience. They've stood long before I arrived and will continue long after. Their resonances―the hum, the rhythmic grind, the mechanical pulse―echo ancient tales of mythical beings, luminous in the night, ever-watchful and unwavering.
Living within the complexes of society, one must confront his insignificance in the face of a vast reality. Within the embrace of steel, concrete, and meticulously designed systems. I find myself becoming faceless. How many voices, stories, and dreams are intertwined in the ceaseless rhythm? How many countless "me's" can this monster represent? As the individual perspectives are pulled back and forth between the micro and macro narratives, the nebulous collective portrait most accurately encapsulates the essence of Insomnious Monster. The Sleepless Monster is an ever-running mechanical collective and an ever-running human collective, residing within the intersection of societal imagination and artificial reality.