Nan Ke Gallery is pleased to present artist Di Yang's video works Foaming Venus and Safe Word at PHOTOFAIRS SHANGHAI (Booth S08) from May 8 to 11.
Foaming Venus explores the fragile state of human existence in the digital age through poetic visual language. The foam in the work serves as both a medium and a metaphor—its ephemeral bubbles, constantly forming and bursting, mirror the unstable sense of identity in an era dominated by technological flux.
Di Yang
Foaming Venus, 2023
1920 x 1080 2K
Single channel video
10min 52sec
3+2AP
© Courtesy of the artist and actress Qing Wen
Di Yang’s practice consistently examines the impact of technological transformation on the human psyche. In Foaming Venus, he constructs a futuristic scene where figures drift between the virtual and the real, always on the verge of dissolution. This approach stems from his reflection on contemporary existence: we live in an environment saturated with algorithms and digital imagery, where the boundary between reality and simulation grows increasingly blurred. What appears to be a solid sense of self is, in truth, as fragile as foam.
Di Yang
Foaming Venus 01, 2023
Hahnemühle Baryta Fine Art Giclée Print, Archival Acid-Free Mounting, Natural White Seashell-Decorated Frame
64.5h × 86w cm / 78h × 100w cm (framed)
3+2AP
© Courtesy of the artist and actress Qing Wen
The female figure in the work is enveloped in foam, a motif that suggests both protection and invisible confinement. This paradoxical presentation reveals the dual nature of technology—it expands human possibilities while simultaneously creating new dilemmas. Through this visual metaphor, Di Yang alludes to how, in the age of social media, individuals are unconsciously molded into idealized versions of themselves, while their authentic identities gradually fade beneath layers of digital filters.
A graduate of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Di Yang excels at transforming elements of popular culture into profound artistic statements. Foaming Venus continues his exploration of narrative in video art, crafting an immersive viewing experience through meticulously designed installations. Audiences are invited not only to engage with the work’s visual tension but also to contemplate the philosophical questions it raises: in an age where traditional experience is increasingly obsolete, how do we redefine our relationship with the world?
Di Yang
Safe Word 03, 2021
Hahnemühle Baryta Fine Art Giclée Print, Archival Acid-Free Mounting, Lead-Trimmed Frame
49.5h × 88w cm / 60h × 100w cm（framed）
5+2AP
© Courtesy of the artist
In another significant work, Safe Word, Di Yang extends his investigation into power dynamics, constructing a psychologically charged space through video installation. The piece stems from observations about disciplinary mechanisms in modern society, revealing how ostensibly protective constraints can evolve into invisible forms of control. The recurring "safe word" in the work functions both as a safeguard and a subtle indicator of power relations—when language is granted the authority to halt power, it simultaneously becomes an instrument of that power.
The imagery in Safe Word carries an unsettling sense of ritual, with figures performing repetitive motions that create a compelling visual rhythm. Through this approach, Di Yang demonstrates how societal discipline becomes internalized as self-regulation. The ostensibly protective setups in the work ultimately lead to a central question: when safety is institutionalized, are we trading freedom for the illusion of security?
From Foaming Venus to Safe Word, Di Yang maintains a sharp sensitivity to the conditions of contemporary life. His works serve as both poetic meditations on technological society and incisive critiques of power structures. By merging video and installation, he constructs a visual world that is at once familiar and alien—a world where the glossy veneer of technology conceals psychological turmoil, and so-called safeguards often mask new forms of control. This unique artistic language transforms his works into a prism through which to examine the most profound contradictions and anxieties of our time.
Installation view of Di Yang's artworks at FHOTO FAIRS SHANGHAI 2025, May 8, 2025 - May 11, Shanghai ©Courtesy of Nan Ke Gallery.
May 10, 2025