Thursday, October 24, 6:00 p.m. | Working at the crossroads of cinema and new media, artist and video game designer Alan Kwan creates immersive and enigmatic games designed to elicit feelings of heartbreak, anguish, fear, and the sublime. In recent years, he’s subverted the violent tropes of mass market games—war and apocalyptic landscapes—to explore the ways we make meaning of our lives. Kwan presents a hybrid talk and screening, followed by a live playthrough of the latest version of his award-winning game, Scent (2017–24).
Program
Parallel III (Harun Farocki, 2014, Germany, 7 minutes)
Parallel III examines the backdrops of game worlds and the nature of their digital objects. The animated worlds appear as one-sided theatre stages, flat backdrops revealed only by the movements of an omniscient camera. The objects in the worlds do not react to "natural forces." Each of their properties must be separately constructed and assigned to them.
489 Years (Hayoun Kwon, 2016, France/South Korea, 11 minutes)
In her stunning and surreal 489 Years, Hayoun Kwon brings to life the memories of a former soldier who patrolled the heavily fortified demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Using 3D animation, she reimagines this complex territory as a striking paradox—one of stunning natural beauty intertwined with profound danger, as it conceals thousands of hidden landmines.
My Own Landscapes (Antoine Chapon, 2021, France, 19 minutes)
In My Own Landscapes, Antoine Chapon uses 3D military game simulations to tell the story of a game designer-turned-soldier. Home from conflict, the veteran finds solace in his digital worlds, transforming their original violent scenarios into spaces of nature and healing.
Scent (Alan Kwan, 2017-24, Hong Kong/USA, ca 30 minutes)
Alan Kwan presents a playthrough of the latest version of his award-winning game.
About the Artist
Alan Kwan is an artist, game designer, and technologist based in Chicago. He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Film, Video, New Media, and Animation of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His work has been exhibited at Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria; ZKM Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany; the 404 International Festival of Art and Technology in Rosario, Argentina; and the Vector Game Art Festival in Toronto, among others. He’s received multiple awards for his projects, including the Honorary Mention at Prix Ars Electronica for his ongoing game project SCENT. His work has been critically discussed in various media including in WIRED Italia, Popular Science, the Boston Globe and on the Discovery Channel.
Accessibility
The Film Center is ADA accessible. Theaters are equipped with hearing-loops. CATE events are presented with real-time captions (CART). For other accessibility requests, please visit saic.edu/access or email cate@saic.edu.
SAIC Student Tickets
All CATE programs are free for SAIC students. Unless otherwise noted, SAIC student tickets are released five days prior to showtime. Tickets must be picked up in person from the Gene Siskel Film Center box office. A student ID is required.
Conversations at the Edge: Screenings, performances, and talks by groundbreaking media artists. Conversations at the Edge is a collaboration between the Film Center, Video Data Bank, and SAIC’s Department of Film, Video, New Media and Animation, organized by Amy Beste, Director of Public Programs, SAIC. View full program.