Feng Mengbo (b. 1966) lives and works in Beijing. Feng Mengbo is the first artist, since the 1990s, who employs computing technology and computer game as artistic medium in China. His works are versatile in subject matter and form that include interactive installation, filmmaking and painting. Feng’s interest in electronic music, 8-bit video game and Chinese calligraphy could be revealed in his media artwork.
Feng Mengbo graduated from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1991, and was invited to participate in the Venice Biennale in 1993. His works are exhibited nationally and internationally, that include, ‘Feng Mengbo’ (MOMA PS1, New York, 2010), ‘Restart’ (Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, 2009), ‘Chinese Painting: Zhang Xiaogang, Fang Lijun, Feng Mengbo’ (Galerie Rudolfinum, Prague, 2008), ‘Past Virtualized: Future Cloned – Feng Mengbo 1994 – 2003’ (MOCA Taipei, Taipei, 2003) and ‘documenta 10’ & ‘documenta 11’ at (Kassel, 1997 & 2002). In 2004, Feng Mengbo received an Award of Distinction from ARS Electronica.
As a video game and martial art enthusiast, Feng merges the two by weaving the classics from Bruce Lee with music by New Pants, a Beijing-based indie band, to stimulate synchronized visual effect and rhythm.
Feng Mengbo has been intrigued by film as a classic medium, especially the ritualistic and theatrical nature of it, and he continues to experiment ways of film appreciation. Since his debut machinima Q3 in 1999. Feng has been employing video game and visual jockey as the creative tool in filmmaking. Recently, he continues exploring the possibility of mobile communication technology and augmented reality in filmmaking. BLVP is based on Feng’s repeated study on four films of Bruce Lee.
Feng creates a real-time immersive video performance by combining early ripped video, pirated VCD and video game in the 80s.