Blind Men Listening to the Sea

Chi Zhang

Artwork Description:

Blind Men Listening to the Sea is an installation-based optical observation system exploring how human perception increasingly depends on signals, algorithms, and invisible mediating structures. The work combines discarded acrylic panels, laser projection, sound vibration, and custom-built optical mechanisms to construct a form of “transparent algorithm” — a system in which physical interactions remain visible and traceable rather than hidden within computational black boxes. Using pulsar signals captured by the FAST radio telescope as a generative source, the installation transforms indirect astronomical data into spatial light trajectories. Referencing radar systems, oscilloscopes, and deep-space observation devices, the work reflects on how contemporary society constructs reality through systems that are sensed, interpreted, and trusted, yet never fully seen.