SHANGRI-LA & MOUNTAIN (SHANGRI-LA)

Patty Chang
M+, Hong Kong

Is paradise a paradox?

Welcome to Shangri-La, a utopian realm that became a real place in 2001 when Zhongdian, a rural town in China was renamed Shangri-La City in an effort to promote tourism. Patty Chang visited the town in 2005, making a real journey to an imaginary place. By documenting her experience, the artist questions the idea of utopias. Watch the film and see the space between fiction and reality collapse, bringing light to the real-world issues that Zhongdian faces. The centrepiece of the film is the creation of a sculpture mirroring the sacred snow mountain Kawa Garbo or Meili Xue Shan which is near Zhongdian. This mesmerising sculpture can rotate slowly, in the style of a prayer wheel, reflecting light and emitting “energy” in the gallery.

How have utopias been explored in science fiction?

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Patty Chang, a Chinese-American artist and filmmaker, is renowned for her interdisciplinary works that interrogate identity, culture, and societal norms. Her exhibitions span global venues, including Reina Sofía in Madrid, MoMA in New York, Shanghai Biennale, and the Moderna Museet in Stockholm.

Installation photography: Matthew Stanton and Phoebe Powell