Written by: Luo Fei
In a groundbreaking achievement for digital art, creative technologist Mengying (Amo) Zeng’s immersive installation "The Book of Diaspora" has been named a finalist for the 2024 Lumen Prize Impact Award, solidifying her position as a leading voice in technology-driven artistic expression. As lead artist and creative design director for the project, Zeng developed both the creative vision and technical implementation of this multimedia project exploring immigration experiences in the United States.
"Immigration-related challenges are pervasive for ‘foreigners’ in the US," explains Zeng. "From school admissions to endless applications, uncertainty and restrictions are constant. For those from China and India, securing permanent residency can take over a decade, involving a compliant job, a willing sponsor, and possibly restarting if changing employers."
In her leadership role and as a creative technologist, Zeng developed a sophisticated technical framework that integrates projection mapping, motion graphics, and physical installations.
The installation centers on a stack of meticulously arranged printed pages, with each page initially displaying conventional markers of professional and academic success—degrees, titles, and accomplishments that signify the "good immigrant" ideal. However, blank spaces strategically left within these paragraphs suggest a deeper, unspoken story, a void awaiting completion.
As viewers approach, a projected moving image animates the printed text, revealing hidden layers that symbolize the emotional toll of navigating the U.S. immigration system. Beneath the top layer of pages lies a stack of immigration paperwork, a tangible reminder of the bureaucratic hurdles and years of waiting many immigrants endure. This stack acts as a physical foundation for the projections, symbolizing the weight and volume of documentation often required in immigration processes.
The installation’s projection design enables an evolving, dynamic interaction with these printed pages, as the visual narrative shifts and adapts with the projection. Scenes of documents fading, reappearing, and morphing evoke a sense of temporality and uncertainty. This multimedia approach invites viewers to look beyond the surface accomplishments of immigrants and glimpse the emotional landscape of resilience, loss, and endurance. By merging printed text with responsive digital layers, Zeng’s installation challenges viewers to experience the immigrant’s journey, not as a static story but as an ongoing process, fraught with bureaucratic delays, setbacks, and silent sacrifices, inviting deeper empathy and understanding.
"Those who share these experiences find empathy beyond language, yet this collective emotion is absent from the mainstream American Dream," Zeng notes. "Through projections and printed materials, we give form to this dual narrative and its nuanced emotions. Our moving images invite audiences to explore ignorance and understanding."
The Lumen Prize, established in 2012, is recognized internationally for its focus on technology-driven art. The prize has facilitated exhibitions at major cultural institutions including the Barbican Centre and Tate Modern, with showcases in Amsterdam, Athens, Hong Kong, New York, and Shanghai. The selection of "The Book of Diaspora" as a finalist places it among significant works in contemporary digital art.
The installation was also selected for exhibition at the 6th annual ACES (Artists of Color Expo & Symposium), expanding its audience reach. This presentation adds to Zeng’s established record of international exhibitions across the United States, China, South Korea, and Macao.
Zeng’s distinctive leadership approach draws from her multidisciplinary background. Combining a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Master of Science from DePaul University, she comprehensively understands her role. Her previous works have garnered recognition from prestigious organizations, including the Chinagraph Electronic Theater, the Chinese CHI Art Gallery, and the Webby Awards.
"The Book of Diaspora" represents a notable advancement in how creative technology can address contemporary social issues. Through the technical integration of projection mapping and interactive installations, Zeng’s work as a creative technologist brings new perspectives to discussions about immigration experiences. The project demonstrates effective applications of digital media in communicating complex social narratives while expanding the possibilities of exhibition design. Find more of "The Book of Diaspora" on https://amozeng.com/book
