Powerful Multimedia Exhibition on China's High-Tech Agriculture

Artist Cao Fei presents a powerful multimedia exhibition at Milan's Fondazione Prada, delving into China's advanced agricultural practices. The show, titled "Dash," reveals how large-scale farming in China now relies on drones, artificial intelligence, and satellite technology, a reality that may be unknown to many.

The exhibition contrasts these hyper-rational methods with the enduring presence of Buddhist rituals, prompting reflection on humanity's connection to nature. Historically, agricultural methods have evolved, but sometimes with unintended consequences, as seen in past ecological disasters. Today, China's approach involves a few "farmers" overseeing the entire annual cycle from isolated control rooms, managing everything from planting to harvest with minimal physical labor.

This technological integration aims to keep crop prices low. However, Cao Fei's central work, a meditative hour-long film, juxtaposes documentary footage of this ultra-rational farming with ritualistic elements of dance and performance. The film focuses on the humming drones that monitor and regulate the entire process.

Cao Fei acknowledges the positive effects of high-tech agriculture, including efficient resource use, reduced physical labor, and healthy harvests. The exhibition also touches upon how these advancements have created new job opportunities for women in a traditionally male-dominated sector. By incorporating mythical and Buddhist rituals, Fei illustrates the coexistence of tradition and modernity in China, suggesting that while technology advances, spiritual and philosophical dimensions remain significant.