With alien aesthetics, Nomi Chi imagines the future — but not necessarily utopia
For them, this future-imagining opens up the possibility of something new, even if it isn't optimistic
Vancouver multidisciplinary visual artist Nomi Chi's often focuses on the future in their work as a way to see possibility. "I think I gravitate toward that kind of alien aesthetic because of my involvement with activism," they say. "It helps me imagine alternate realities."
"I think especially in this political climate, I try to think about different ways of being in this world or maybe even being in a different kind of world."
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For Chi, this future-imagining isn't overly optimistic — but open to the possibility of something new. "I try not to think about the future in utopic terms. I think the reality of what the future is going to look like is going to be so vastly different than what we can predict."
Chi tries to imagine a realistic future, where hopes are balanced with an assessment of the reality of human nature. "I would hope that people would resolve a lot of philosophical issues that we're battling with right now in terms of sharing space with each other and getting along, but I don't really have high hopes for that."
"I try to maintain some streaks of violence or struggle or antagonism in my work because I think that's part of human nature. I don't think we're going to get rid of that anytime soon or even down the road."
See more of Nomi Chi's art below and on their Instagram:
Art Minute is a CBC Arts series taking you inside the minds of Canadian artists to hear what makes them tick and the ideas behind their work.