What is dystopian art?

Dystopian art is a genre of art that explores the darker aspects of society and the future.

It typically depicts a world that is dysfunctional, oppressive, and bleak, often portraying a society in collapse or under the control of authoritarian regimes.

Dystopian art can take many forms, such as paintings, sculptures, films, literature, and other forms of media. It often includes elements of science fiction, horror, and social commentary, and is intended to challenge and critique the current state of society.

Themes commonly found in dystopian art include mass surveillance, environmental degradation, political oppression, technological advancement without regard for ethics, and the dangers of unchecked power.

The genre can be seen as a warning against the consequences of societal, environmental, and technological issues if they are not addressed, and it often aims to inspire reflection and change.

How did this dystopian art music video come to be?

In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, I collaborated with MR Eff, a California-based electronic music artist, to create a music video for his track "Uncanny Valley".

Together, we envisioned a world that embodied the themes of corruption and vanity. Our premise was simple: characters living in dark, dingy apartments that reflected their sick and unhealthy states, plugged themselves into terrifying devices that pierced their skin, and transported them to a video game-like environment where they appeared as shiny avatars inside a shopping mall.

The avatars engaged in flirting, shopping, and admiring themselves in mirrors. Later, the characters visited a wellness store where we aimed to poke fun at the toxic positivity culture that emerged during the early stages of the pandemic.

In this store, MR Eff made an appearance as a 3D clerk selling pills. In the meditation room, also known as the void room, the avatars took the pills and experienced a cyber erotic encounter that quickly spiraled out of control, causing the program to crash and frying their brains as they remained hooked to their VR machines.

How Did I make this music video?

I utilized a combination of Daz 3D and Zbrush to create and animate the characters for the video, while all of the environments were constructed in 3Ds Max.

To add a surreal quality to the video, I incorporated 3DS MAX's new feature called auto-populate, which fills the space with slightly animated low-poly individuals dressed in business casual attire. These autopopulate characters are deliberately placed to contrast with the shiny and beautiful avatars of the protagonists, emphasizing their insignificance and adding a comedic element to the video.