HANDS ON: Cao Fei

The following activity ideas can be used to engage audiences in a hands-on approach to processing the ideas presented in the artist's film segment. They were compiled from our Educators' Guides and Screening Toolkits. Activities include not only visual art strategies but writing, research, and other disciplinary methods. Additional resources and strategies for teaching with films and working with contemporary art can be found in Teach.

"A Mirage (COSPlayers Series)," 2004. Digital C-print, 29 1/4 x 39 1/4 inches. © Cao Fei. Courtesy the artist and Lombard-Freid Projects, New York.

Write a short story or choose a favorite work of literature. Fashion a character from this work as an avatar, using Second Life or another application. Using images of the avatar, create a digital profile that includes photographs or drawings of the avatar in relation to the story.

"PRD Anti-Heroes," 2006. Video stills. Multi-media Opera, single-channel color video with sound, 2 hours 22 minutes. © Cao Fei. Courtesy the artist and Lombard-Freid Projects, New York.

Collect music videos from a variety of genres, cultures, and countries that blend imagery, music, text, and performance in different ways. Using these videos as inspiration, create a multimedia installation or performance that explores a specific street culture.

"My Future is Not a Dream 05," 2006. Digital C-print, 47 1/4 x 59 inches. © Cao Fei. Courtesy the artist and Lombard-Freid Projects, New York.