The theme of this solo exhibition revolves around Sun Xun's recently completed feature-length film, Magic Atlas. Created over a decade by the artist and his studio team, the film receives its premiere in the Times Museum's exhibitions hall. Against the backdrop of technological accelerationism, Sun Xun adopts a long-termed perspective in his creative practice, choosing the labor-intensive medium of woodcut animation. This approach merges a rugged, earthy aesthetic language with the fluidity of digital imaging technology. Viewers can traverse between animated sequences and static woodcut frames to experience the grand yet precise worldview underlying his fluid narrative.
This project marks Sun Xun's largest artistic endeavor to date, encompassing animation, painting, installation, and fictional texts to construct the magical realm of "Locha" – a coal empire devoid of history and memory where flight is forbidden. The film’s universe comprises seven distinct territories: Locha, Dunhuo, Wusun, Jingbang, Tanyi, Juku Continent, and Jinta Ling, unfolding according to a magical star atlas. Each world is assigned a unique artistic style: woodcut, ink wash, contemporary painting, or Persian miniature. These painting forms throughout history have become the connective threads weaving through the constellation of images in his work.
Beyond Magic Atlas and the monumental woodcuts and animation drafts created for the film, the exhibition will premiere Sun Xun's newly commissioned VR animation, Pinnacle of Illusion. Key works from the artist’s practice since 2005 will also be featured, showcasing not only representative animated films but also a rich diversity of media and forms. This comprehensive presentation offers insights into Sun Xun's artistic vision and his reflections on the contemporary art landscape.