Urban Scars
Multi-sensory Installation & Social Research
Timeline
2019-2023
Typology
Social Research / Installation
Keywords
Socio-economic Inequality / Urbanism
Urban Scars is a research-led art installation exploring the invisible socio-economic fractures within modern metropolises. Inspired by the shanty towns hidden behind Shanghai’s skyscrapers, the project unveils neglected communities that bear the brunt of rapid urban development, presented through a poignant multi-sensory narrative.
Field Research & Social Practice: The project is the culmination of four years of field research (2019-2023) across Shanghai’s urban villages and rural areas in Yunnan Province. It moves beyond traditional documentation to create an emotional engagement between the audience and the raw reality of marginalized spaces.
Multi-sensory Narrative & Data: By mapping global and local urban poverty data, the installation provides a factual foundation for its artistic expression. Through a child’s perspective, the work provokes viewers to rethink the "glamorous facade" of the city and the ethics of resource distribution.
"Unveiling the neglected communities that persist in silence—the hidden scars of urban expansion."