EAST 2046: A Journey into Sino Futures

Short reflections after a mind-bending Sunday of talks, exhibitions, Qigong and techno at EAST 2046.

We saw how the space industry could be re-entangled with earth and humanity through art.

Interactive, living artworks by Seph Li. These fascinating pieces invite participation and draw attention to the dymanic, complex reality we inhabit. A reality that somehow manages to encapsulate everything before and everything after in a single moment.

Seph Li said he is still looking for the sweet spot between artistic direction and generative possibility in his work. I think he isn't far away with his upcoming piece: Thus trees. Thus us. A human forest grown by participants.

(Professor Cangbai Wang](https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/directory/wang-cangbai) talked to us about bridging borders and creating spaces.

He emphasised the importance of thoughtful heritage that extends and tends to our roots into the past so that kind, compassionate futures can flourish. Distinguising this from history, which seeks to understand the 'what actually happened'.

My pal, Dr Alex Boyd, an embodiment wizard and founder of Intercultural Roots shared their vision for localised place-based technologies for intentional navigation of memory and curation of identity.

We then escaped for some sunshine in the Vauxhall pleasure gardens. Just a park, I promise. Wonderful conversations, me and Alex are definitely exploring similar possibility spaces for alternative digital realms.

Then in the evening we experienced a nightclub from the future.

Including an energetic nightclub Qigong session led by Alex transformed into a Daoist monk. Showing us how ancient eastern philosophy and tradition could be extended into new realms.

Great fun, I learnt some new dance moves. Looking forward to seeing some of the videos from this.

I can't quite believe my luck stumbling into this community and fascinating thought space.

Alex, my friend, you are a crazy cat doing many a weird and wonderful thing. Thanks for introducing me to Dr Lois Liao.

Lois, you and the team absolutely smashed it. Can't believe you pulled that together in three months. Thank you!

Looking forward to checking out some more of the festival program throughout the next week.

If you don't know, get to know: EAST 2046

P.S. I also just created an Instagram account which I am experimenting with. You may follow me if you so wish.