Join us for a series of international ‘Live Plays’ of Welcome to BioNet by Shu Lea Cheang, UP Projects latest commission for This is Public Space. Scheduled at times convenient for participation around the globe, we encourage you to play, experience and participate across borders.
Enter a world saturated by corporate power, digital systems and waste where the biological, technical and sexual are deeply interwoven. Welcome to BioNet, can we interest you in joining?
Welcome to BioNet is situated in a world where the internet has crashed and is grounded in UKI, Cheang’s ongoing alt-reality cinema in which the fictional corporation GENOM aims to track, control and reconfigure our biodata. GENOM exits the Internet as we currently know it and takes the human body hostage to initiate BioNet, a biological platform where data moves from person to person. Within BioNet, red blood cells are reconfigured into DNA retainers that can store, reprocess and send data and memories. To motivate users, they are also capable of self-generating orgasmic data. Under this scheme, GENOM also harvests orgasm transaction data to produce pleasure-enhancing red pills for mass pharmaceutical markets.
This new digital commission invites you to join BioNet, interact with others, consolidate networks and enhance personal e-data. Are you ready to join us? How far are you willing to go? Will you make it to the climax?
Join us for self-led Live Play sessions at the dates and times outlined below. We also encourage you to join our Telegram community to chat with others, discuss the work and play together.
Live Play Dates and Time
- Monday, 8 November 2021, 18:00 GMT
- Sunday, 12 November 2021, 12:00 GMT
- Wednesday, 24 November 2021, 04:00 GMT
- Thursday, 9 December 2021, 09:00 GMT
- Thursday, 16 December 2021, 23:00 GMT
- Wednesday, 19 January 2022, 20:00 GMT
Questions & Answers
How does it work?
Self-led ‘Live Plays’ are scheduled at times that enable people from across the world to participate. During these times we encourage you to join our Telegram chat and head to the “View Artwork” button on the top right of this page. Chat with people live whilst you experience Welcome to BioNet by Shu Lea Cheang. As a group, we encourage you to try and make it to the end.
Do I have to download Telegram?
No, but engaging with others might improve your experience. The commission is best experienced when you join with others that you can engage with. Even if you don’t download or participate in the Telegram chat, these times will ensure that other active users are live and can be engaged with once you experience the commission.
None of the times work for my time zone. What can I do?
If none of the times work for your timezone and you would like us to advertise a live play in your country, please email us at info@upprojects.com so that we can add your date to the list. We also encourage you to engage with friends, family, and colleagues.
Accessibility
This commission contains bright flashing lights and/or imagery that may be unsuitable for some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. Participation by people with photosensitive epilepsy is welcomed and safe until a certain point in the commission (an action must be performed in order for the triggering section to begin). Please contact info@upprojects.com for further information on how to participate safely.
