The year 2096: An android shaman roams the Taiwanese island of Formosa to rediscover ancient wisdom and prove the presence of the “third prince”, as the androgynous Chinese deity Nezha is affectionately called. Her multiple incarnations are manifested in various contexts of popular entertainment and religious heritage in Taiwan and China. Berlin-based artist Choy Ka Fai's first game for HAU4, which provides a virtual space of possibility with the “third prince” as an avatar, manages to offer a narrative that's otherwise impossible due to the everyday political disputes between the two countries. The digital yet human-like representation of this deity manages to counteract the divide between the two states by emphasising the historical and current relationships between the populations, inviting us to imagine a future beyond the current conflicts.
More information about Spy on Me #5, a festival that took place in October 2024.