Digital Earth

The Internet, which the first non-military users perceived and shaped as the utopian universal space, has limits. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳 by Guo Cheng sheds light on one of the highest walls of the Internet: the Great Firewall of China (GFW). In his project, Cheng examines the virtual borders China has erected to safeguard its cyber sovereignty. Certain foreign websites are blocked, and cross-border communication is slowed down. In 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳 Cheng assumes the role of a ‘firewall tourist’ who visits the invisible websites that host the GFW’s network infrastructures.

Explore this contribution in full in Vertical Atlas, head to the link in bio 📒

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Images: Guo Cheng. The Net Wanderer - A Tour of Suspended Handshakes, 2019 - ongoing

For Dan Zhu working with pencil and paint on paper or linen is the beauty of necessity, the wonder of medium, there since the explosion of space itself. Circle after circle, round after round, the hour glass is turning.

With Eyeballs, Windows and Mussels, Zhu implicitly asks the question how cosmoslogy is embedded in daily life. How can imagination shape a liveable digital future?

Zoom in on this work in Vertical Atlas, head to the link in bio to download the book for free!

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Image: Dan Zhu. Eyeballs, Windows and Mussels. 2020.

🖼️If you’re in Rotterdam this week be sure to check the Vertical Atlas Exhibition until November 27th. With work from Kévin Bray, Geocinema (Asia Bazdyrieva and Solveig Qu Suess), Isaac Kariuki, Francois Knoetze, Emo de Medeiros, Andrej Škufca, Suzanne Treister, and Qiu Zhijie.

On view is Making of Earths, which explores Geocinema’s ‘planetary’ notion of cinema. The film traces current efforts made across China and South East Asia, to predict the future of Earth’s increasingly strange climates, in the shadow of ever more control on land.

All images: Making of Earths, Geocinema 2021.

The Vertical Atlas team would like to extend a huge 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 to everyone who made last weeks event possible. We had a fantastic evening celebrating the launch of with you all.

🌐 The online publication is now live and freely accessible to explore from your devices.

📒 Get your hands on a beautifully printed book via ArtEZPress webshop or via your local bookstore.

🖼️ Visit the Vertical Atlas exhibition Het Nieuwe Instituut on Tuesday - Sunday from 10am - 5pm until November 27th.

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Photography: Aad Hoogendoorn ()