“The Big Mist” Art Project

"When breathing has become a big problem, we have to reflect deeply, let us do something for the poor urban environment! A collective cry out and a moment of suffocation!“

"The Big Mist" project is calling for interesting and ironic participants from all over the world! Put on the gear, mask, and headscarf that you think can definitely protect against the poisonous smog and take pictures outdoors (preferably in bad weather)... Looking forward to your participation! Keep calling for! "

In January 2013, after watching the smog news on the internet, Gao Ling in London sent the above information through social networks such as Facebook, Weibo, and Douban, and publicly called for “selfies” in response to air pollution. She recalled: "Because it was heavily polluted, everyone's reaction was very direct and urgent. Some participants looked at the photo album online before doing the performance shooting, and then sent out the photos."

Gao Ling was born in Jiangsu, China and currently lives in Shanghai. Her interdisciplinary approach encompasses a variety of mediums of visual art, photography, installation, and performance art. Her works create strange and humorous interventions and reset the norms of daily life. She chose to use masks as a starting point for creations which was derived from her attention to daily experience: “At that time, the smog was serious, and masks became a hot topic. Various technologies, textures, and colors of masks emerged endlessly. Everyone was discussing which masks had better defensive functions."

"The Big Mist" project was launched in 2013, it mainly consists of three parts–– public calling & shooting of performance photography, the organic masks design and interactive studio, and the design and use of GIF expression packs.

Since January 2013, "The Big Mist" project has collected hundreds of performance photos through invitations and open calls. Creators came from all over the world, from Beijing to Hong Kong, Kathmandu to Berlin, London to Madrid... Participants pay more attention to expressing themselves in their environment and make some efforts to change the current situation, thus calling for people to pay attention to environmental purification.

Since 2015, Gao Ling has produced a series of wearable artworks, using music records, tea funnels, lace, and other daily necessities to produce masks, and then wore the masks to parks, streets, and other public spaces. The strange design of masks and the unusual outfits of the artist attracted many people to watch and interact, and exchanged views on smog issues and "The Big Mist" project. The photos of the event also inspired more participants to create and exchange in public spaces.

Another important part of "The Big Mist" is the creation and use of GIF animations. The increasing diversification of online chat tools have provided another option for communication under bad weather, and the circulation of GIFs on social media has added a touch of helplessness and humor to online chats. Most of these GIFs were shot by Gao Ling first, and then more people participated.

The GIF series was started in around 2015, in the middle of “The Big Mist” project.

“The Big Mist” Project is a work about air. It is about people's breathing. It also raises such a question all the time, hoping that people can see a series of causes and effects about the environment and respond to them.