At Fondazione Prada, the exhibition Dash by Cao Fei leaves a strong impression. A multimedia project moving between video, documentary footage and installation, centred around agriculture, technology and labour. Contemporary agricultural life.
The contrasts are immediate. Physical labour alongside drone technology. Rice farmers working the land, while new systems make the process lighter and more efficient. There is a sense of invention in these communities, adapting tools to their own reality. Co-existence becomes a key theme. Not only between human and machine, also between tradition and new technology. In one of the films, I recognise a form of Cantonese, mixed with another dialect. Language shifts, just like the landscape. It adds another layer to the work.
Dash by Cao Fei, courtesy of the artist and Fondazione Prada
Devotion takes another form. An altar dedicated to the drone, shifting from spirit to technology. A dragon form, referencing both mythology and technology. A visual language that transcends function. The exhibition moves across regions in China and Southeast Asia, observing the rapid rise of what is often referred to as smart agriculture. At the same time, it raises questions about labour, migration, and the ever-changing relationships between people and land.
What remains is the tension. Between efficiency and tradition. Between progress and memory. Generations of rice farmers face change, as younger family members leave and sometimes return, drawn back by shifts in labour and technology. Cao Fei observes these transitions closely, without forcing a conclusion. A complex, layered exhibition, and a fascinating artist to watch.
Images by the author, courtesy of the artist and Fondazione Prada.
Discover: www.fondazioneprada.com
