Screen Melancholy: Li Yi-Fan

Presented by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM), “Screen Melancholy: Li Yi-Fan” is a Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Held at the Palazzo delle Prigioni, the exhibition features a brand-new video work and immersive installation. The project addresses the anxiety stemming from digital transformation, information overload, and the rapid development of generative AI. The title, derived from the Portuguese ‘Melancolia de tela’, refers to the state of melancholy induced by prolonged screen use.

Curated by Raphael Fonseca, the exhibition bridges Renaissance-era contemplations of the human condition with present-day technological anxieties. Li Yi-Fan utilizes “digital puppetry” and real-time game engines to create intuitive animations that explore the relationship between humans and video technology. The central 60-minute video tells the story of an ‘eyeball’ returning home, using an improvisational soliloquy to discuss the impact of AI on humanity. The installation integrates the historical architecture of the former prison, incorporating large-scale 3D-printed sculptures of body fragments that serve as seating. These physical elements echo the digital performers on screen, blurring the boundaries between reality and virtual space.