John Wong, also known as Nothing is Real, is a multidisciplinary artist based in the UK, navigating the "in-between" spaces of painting, film, theatre, and AI. His work intricately explores the fusion of these art forms, focusing on the relationships between patterns and spaces, ancient fortune-telling algorithms versus modern superstitions, the contrasts between natural and fabricated realities, and the solitude within everyday life.
Wong's career features several milestones, such as the screening of his film "The Tourist" at the 27th Hong Kong International Film Festival in 2002. His engagement with the international art scene, notably through the ARX5 cultural exchange in Australia and Singapore (1998-1999), has deeply influenced his practice.
Key recent achievements include the algorithmic installation "RuShi," which received the prestigious Best of Show Award at SIGGRAPH 2019 in Los Angeles. His work has been highlighted at significant exhibitions, including the Microwave International New Media Arts Festival 2018 and ISEA2019 in Gwangju. In 2020, "RuChu AR" featured in the "Peer to Peer UK/HK" online exhibition. More recently, in 2023, Wong participated in an artist development program, CTRL, in Manchester curated by The Lowry & Submerge Festival. In 2024, his AI artworks were exhibited in prominent cities around the world including London, New York, and San Francisco. Additionally, his AI work, "Lemon Yellow," has been shortlisted for the Visual Art Open 2024 UK & International Emerging Artist Awards.
Inspired by The Beatles' timeless lyrics from "Strawberry Fields Forever," my artist name, Nothing is Real, pays homage to their enduring influence on my creative journey.
“Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to, strawberry fields, nothing is real!…"
“RuShi” (2018), Algorithmic installation art, exhibits at:
Microwave International New Media Arts Festival 2018
ISEA2019 at Gwangju
SIGGRAPH 2019’s Art Gallery at Los Angeles (Best of the Show Award).
“RuChu AR” (2020) is selected by “Peer to Peer UK/HK” online exhibition in 2020.
“RuShi NFT” Series (2022)
“RuChu NFT” (2022) exhibits at “Conversations: Conscious Fluidity” project that curated by Artdott x Q9 in Hong Kong.
“RuChu_64” NFT Series (2022)
CTRL (Creative Technology Research Labs) (2023), artist development programme curated by The Lowry & Submerge Festival, Great Manchester
“/Flames of Progress” AI Short Film, 4’45“ (2024)
“Pale Green” (2024) AI Art:
“The Ideal Error” at Shoreditch Arts Clubs, London. An exhibition presented by exactly.ai in collaborating with World of Women (WoW) during London Digital Art Week. 24-28 Apr 2024
“Permanent Rose_3” (2024) AI Art:
Awita New York Studio, International Exhibition, 16-30 May 2024
“Imagine…Digital Soul” International Digital Art Exhibition, curated by ArtX Gallery at GenAI Summit, San Francisco, Palace of Fine Arts
“Creative Talents Magazine” issue 8, UK, 2024
“Artist Talk Magazine” issue 33, September 2024
Being longlisted for “Visual Art Open 2024 UK & International Emerging Artist Awards”, presented by Visual Artist Open and in partnership with Visual Artists Association
“Gold_1” (2024) AI Art, , exhibits in:
“Creative Talents Magazine” issue 8, UK, 2024
“Artist Talk Magazine” issue 33, US, September 2024
“RuShi_Portrait” series (2024), acrylic on canvas
“Memory of the Existing and the Imaginary” exhibition Volume 7, curated by Contemporary Art Chronicle, Aug 2024
“Museum of Prompt_2” (2024) AI Art:
“Imagine…Digital Soul” International Digital Art Exhibition, curated by ArtX Gallery at GenAI Summit, San Francisco, Palace of Fine Arts
“Creative Talents Magazine” issue 8, UK, 2024
“Museum of Prompt_6” (2024) AI Art:
“Imagine…Digital Soul” International Digital Art Exhibition, curated by ArtX Gallery at GenAI Summit, San Francisco, Palace of Fine Arts
“Creative Talents Magazine” issue 8, UK, 2024
“Emerging Voices” series, curated by Colonna Contemporary Gallery, Pennsylvania, 2024 (Under Curation)
“Lemon Yellow” (2024) AI Art:
“Imagine…Digital Soul” International Digital Art Exhibition, curated by ArtX Gallery at GenAI Summit, San Francisco, Palace of Fine Arts, 29-31 May 2024
“Summertime Art Exhibit” at Oculus, Westfield World Trade Center, NYC, in The Canvas 3.0 Gallery. Curated by Transient Labs, 14-July 2024.
“Creative Talents Magazine” issue 8, UK, 2024
Shortlisted for “Visual Art Open 2024 UK & International Emerging Artist Awards”, presented by Visual Artist Open and in partnership with Visual Artists Association
“She’s so Heavy_1” (2024) AI Art
Being longlisted for “Visual Art Open 2024 UK & International Emerging Artist Awards”, presented by Visual Artist Open and in partnership with Visual Artists Association
“Sushi Man_2” (2024) AI Art
Selected for the exhibition for the AIFilm3: Film & Art Festival in Glendale Arizona Entertainment District AMC Theatre. Powered by The Hug. Curated by AIFilm3 & Pixel Palette PPN
“Period 9” AI Short Film, 10'‘06’ (2024)
“Museum of Prompt_5” (2024) AI Art:
“115 Best Digital Artists of Our Generation” curated by ARCHIV3 at Oculus, Westfield World Trade Center, NYC, in The Canvas 3.0 Gallery
“HER” (2024) AI Art:
"Frankenstein 3.0 – Overcoming Death through Human and Machine" exhibition curated by vavortex.com and digitalbohemians.club. It’s an AR exhibition in the public spaces of Ingolstadt, Germany (Birthplace of Frankenstein) and in the Metaverse of Vavortex Gallery