Tiananmen Square Augmented Reality

Smartphone App Revives
Statue of Democracy + Tank Man at Tiananman Square

Click to view larger image

F1. Statue of Democracy on Tiananman Square 1989, and the virtual version

F2.  Using iPhone or Android phone, one can view a virtual Statue of Democracy superimposed within the physical environment. 

 

F3. Tank Man on East Chang'an Street in Tiananman Protest 1989, and the 3D version

F4. Viewing Tank Man with an iphone or Android phone with Layar application installed, on Chang'an Street, Beijing. 

F5. Locating  Statue of Democracy + Tank Man at Tiananman Square on Google Map

Description

Although it has been more than twenty years since Tiananman Protest took place in 1989, the authority persistently uses all means erasing the facts that Chinese people pursued democracy in this democratic and anti-corruption movement. In China, nowadays, young people are not aware the courageous actions, such as 'Tank Man' and erecting 'Statue of Democracy' facing Mao's portrait on Tiananman Tower, emerged during student movement of 1989. Nonetheless, history should not be forgotten. 

Information and communication technologies have inspired people to express their thoughts freely. We as artists, taking advantages of the development  of mobile phone technology and smartphone applications, have revived the history of 1989 Tiananman Protest that  has tremendous implications waiting  for further examinations by our contemporaries.   

Deploying Augmented Reality application, Layar (free download at http://layar.com) for Android and iPhone, we have created virtual 'Statue of Democracy' and 'Tank Man,' and installed those monumental icons on the physical sites where the real incidents took place. Any visitor, domestic or from abroad,  can find those virtual monuments on Tiananmen Square and nearby East Chang'an Street with an iPhone or Android mobile device, as well as taking picture with them. 

The images above indicate the real incidents, making process of Statue of Democracy & Tank Man (F1 & F3), the Augmented Reality on mobile devices (F2 & F4), and the exact locations of the AR work on Google map (F5). 

Audience Experience:

Once the audience downloads the Layar Augmented Reality Browser to their Android or iPhone, he or she could stand in Tiananmen Square and point their device's camera towards the northern side of the plaza where the Goddess of Democracy was originally erected. The application uses geolocation software to superimpose a computer generated 3D graphic of the Goddess of Democracy at the precise GPS coordinates of the original, enabling them to see the augmentation integrated into the physical location as if it existed in the real world. Similarly, the Tank Man augmentation would be placed on Chang'an Avenue northeast of Tiananmen Square in the exact location of the original event. Both augmentations will appear in the original scale and orientation.

Technical Requirements:

1. Hardware: iPhone or Android Phone

2. Software: Layar, free download at http://layar.com

U.S. Postition on Egyptian Protest

Dr. ElBaradei also criticized the Obama administration, as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered the message via Sunday news programs in Washington that Mr. Mubarak should create an “orderly transition” to a more politically open Egypt, while she refrained from calling on him to resign. That approach, Dr. ElBaradei said, was “a failed policy” eroding American credibility.

"The American government cannot ask the Egyptian people to believe that a dictator who has been in power for 30 years would be the one to implement democracy. This is a farce," he told the CBS program "Face the Nation."

"...this government that has become a gang”

“We know this has to do with the desire for freedom, prosperity and opportunity, and we support people who don’t want to live under tyranny, but who will take advantage of what is happening in its wake?” a top official said. “The prevailing sense here is that you need a certain stability followed by reform. Snap elections are likely to bring a very different outcome.” 

“This is the Obama administration’s first foreign policy crisis in real time,” said Aaron David Miller, a Middle East peace negotiator in the Clinton administration. “Their response is marked by bad options, precarious outcomes and limited influence to shape — let alone direct — events.”

1989 Tiananmen Protest and Chinese-American Relations

[after 1989 Tiananmen Massacre] A crucial question in Chinese-American relations was the continuation or suspension of China's unfettered right to export to the United States. The term for this right, "most favored nation" status (MFN), is somewhat misleading in that it does not confer any special privileges, but only distinguishes states with which the United States has good commercial relations. The withdrawal of MFN was favored by human rights activists and a majority in Congress as a means of punishing China for the human rights violations so vividly symbolized by the Tiananmen massacre. Bush disagreed and fought off congressional pressure to restrict trade, twice vetoing punitive measures. He argued that the best way to encourage reform in China was to have a thriving trade, and that cutting off trade would hurt both the American economy and Chinese men and women who were not responsible for human rights violations.

Read more: Trade and foreign policy in asia - George Bush - war http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Kennedy-Bush/George-Bush-Trade-and-foreign-policy-in-asia.html#ixzz1CX1Jw7Sq

Lang Lang Plays Chinese Propaganda Tune at White House

http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1603829/Lang%20Lang%20Plays%20Chinese%20Propag.html

At the White House State dinner on Jan. 19, about six minutes into his set, Lang Lang began tapping out a famous anti-American propaganda melody from the Korean War: the theme song to the movie “Battle on Shangganling Mountain.” He expressed this idea more frankly in a later blog post, writing: “Playing this song praising China to heads of state from around the world seems to tell them that our China is formidable, that our Chinese people are united; I feel deeply honored and proud.”

Isn't it extremely sad to hear this kind statement made by a young Chinese, an artist?

Non-Cooperation

While Hu and Obama both pledge cooperative, it's especially important that we, as Chinese independent intellectuals and artists, emphasize being 'Uncooperative' with the autocratic Chinese government.

Hu-Obama Meeting 2011: What's the Deal

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/world/asia/22china.html?ref=asia

Unlike Mr. Hu’s previous trip five years ago, when he was not accorded full honors and a series of gaffes marred the visit, this one seems to have gone exactly according to script — which is how Beijing likes largely ceremonial events like state visits. There was a 21-gun salute, a gala dinner, and a live news conference that went about as well as could be expected for the press-shy Mr. Hu. Business deals were signed, a small child was hugged, and a major speech was delivered.

From China’s point of view, the trip was intended to do two things. The first was to show Mr. Hu being accorded the respect he is due as head of a powerful country. That was the Washington part of the trip, with all of its pomp and circumstance.

It was also meant to highlight China’s soft power by having Mr. Hu visit Chicago and inspect a Chinese company — to show that China is not just the world’s factory but an investor and job creator itself overseas. Also on the agenda was a visit to a Confucius Institute, one of the country’s new chain of cultural centers that Beijing is banking on to spread its influence in more subtle ways.



http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2011/01/201101220340.shtml

Translation: Boxun reporter received information from an expert of  think tank at Washington Foundation (?), who said before Hu's visit to Washington, his trusted reached a secret agreement with White House: Hu will be treated with high standard of hospitality, and be highly praised. It is said, althogh no written agreement, during a short period of two and half months, 3 high Chinese officials including Dai Bingguo, repeatedly made assurance to the White House: during the next 2 years when Obama seeks re-election, 'with greatest sincerity and taking unprecedented actions of the century, China will help Chinese, American economies getting better,  ' to achieve win-win.

Of course, the expert said, win-win does not refer to the two countries, instead, Obama wins presidential election in two years, and Hu wins the power battle within CCP. ...

Democracy Movement and Dictorial Government

五四运动，倡导民主、科学、人权，结果事与愿违，引进的却是反民主、反人权的思想。中国仁人志士追求的美好的理想最终成了这样一个结果：苏联的专制制度和中国王权思想的叠加。

- 杨继绳《墓碑：第二十七章 集体信仰——共产主义宗教》

May Fourth Movement, advocating democracy, science and human rights, ended up backfiring by introducing ideas against democracy, against human rights. Chinese people pursuing ideal with good intentions eventually resulted such an outcome: a superpostion of Russian dictatorial system and Chinese kingship ideology.

- Yang Jisheng, Chapter 27 A Collective Belief: Communism as Religion, Tombstome

Human Arrogance and Brutality

所有人文学的主要宗旨，一方面是确立人的价值、尊严、自由，另一方面是人的不断自省，也就是对人的弱点的揭示、限制和改造。对于当今人类来说，后一方面甚至比前一方面更重要。因为，在人的所有弱点中，最要不得的、危害最大的就是人的狂妄，狂妄将导致人的兽性极端爆发，导致动物界也不会发生的疯狂——人对人的残忍。

-刘晓波《人的问题》

The main purpose of all humanities, on the one hand is to establish the human values, dignity and freedom, on the other hand is constant self-examination, namely through revealing, confining and reforming to overcome human weakness. For today's humans, the latter is even more important than the former. Because, among all human weakness, the worst, most damaging one is arrogance, which leads to extreme outbreaks of brutality, and results insanity hardly seen from animals: man's cruelty to man.

- Liu Xiaobo, An Issue of Human

Brainwashing

在思想和信息封闭的条件下，中央政府利用这些垄断机器，长期灌输共产主义价值，排除和批判其他价值。这样，在无知青年的头脑中造成了一种鲜明而强烈的是非和爱憎,形成了实现共产主义理想的强烈渴望。这时，如果有反对这种理想或与这种理想不一致的言行出现，必定受到群起攻击。

- 杨继绳《墓碑》

Restricting ways of thinking and access to information, using these machines for monopoly on ideology, Central Government indoctrinates the values of Communism for long-term, while excluding and criticizing other values. Then, if there is any comment or action contradictory or inconsistent with this (communist) ideal, it must be attached by people rallied.

- Yang Jisheng, Tombstone

The Truth Center

中国共产党取得了政权以后，一方面封锁了来自境外的一切理论和信息，另一方面又全面否定了中国传统的道德标准。政府既垄断了信息，又垄断了真理。中共中央既是权力中心、真理中心，又是信息中心。

- 杨继绳《墓碑》 

After Chinese communist regime gained political power, it on one hand blocked all the theory and information from abroad, on the other hand completely denied traditional Chinese moral standards. Government has a monopoly on information, and truth as well. CPC is not only the center of power, truth center, but also the information center.

- Yang Jisheng, Tombstone

Human Progress

Ideas of human progress can be traced back to the ancient world. Plato, in The Republic, attempts to create an ideal society he believes would be a greater good for humanity. Other historical theories, such as those during the Enlightenment, defined progress in accordance with individual freedom. Immanuel Kant, in his text "What is Enlightenment?" described it as " Enlightenment is man's leaving his self-caused immaturity. Immaturity is the incapacity to use one's intelligence without the guidance of another."

The Fire of Enlightenment

        启蒙，只是唤醒被遮蔽的人人皆有的理性能力，使人能够独立思考，进而自主生活，落实到社会层面，就是个人自治和民间自治。

    -刘晓波《康德点燃的启蒙之火》

Enlightenment, is waking up covered rational ability that everyone has, so that one can think independently, then controls his or her own live, at the societal level, the personal autonomy and civil autonomy.

- Liu Xiaobo, Kant Lit the Fire of the Enlightenment

Chinese Intellectuals Prostitute

现在的知识分子卖身求利和毛时代著名知识分子的卖身求荣，其内在精神一脉相承。

- 刘晓波 《嫖公益嫖私德及学术腐败》

Current Chinese intellectuals prostitute themselves seeking profit and influential, and intellectuals of Mao's Age prostitute themselves seeking fame, the inner spirit is the same. 

- Liu Xiaobo, Prostitution, Public Benefit, Personal Morality and Academic Corruption

'support those who fight – for us all'

The point of these awards has of course never been to offend anyone. The Nobel Committee’s intention has been to say something about the relationship between human rights, democracy and peace. And it has been important to remind the world that the rights so widely enjoyed today were fought for and won by persons who took great risks.They did so for others. That is why Liu Xiaobo deserves our support.

Liu has told his wife that he would like this year’s Peace Prize to be dedicated to "the lost souls from the 4th of June." It is a pleasure for us to fulfil his wish.

There are scarcely any examples in world history of a great power achieving such rapid growth over such a long period of time as China. Since 1978, year by year, decade after decade, the country’s growth rate has stood at 10 percent or more. A few years ago the country’s output was greater than Germany’s; this year it exceeded Japan’s. China has thus achieved the world’s second largest gross national product. The USA’s national product is still three times greater than China’s, but while China is continuing its advance, the USA is in serious difficulties.

Economic success has lifted several hundred million Chinese out of poverty. For the reduction in the number of poor people in the world, China must be given the main credit.

We can to a certain degree say that China with its 1.3 billion people is carrying mankind’s fate on its shoulders. If the country proves capable of developing a social market economy with full civil rights, this will have a huge favourable impact on the world. If not, there is a danger of social and economic crises arising in the country, with negative consequences for us all.

Human rights limit what the nation-state and the majority in a nation-state can do. This must apply to all states that are members of the United Nations and who have acceded to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The human rights activists in China are defenders of the international order and the main trends in the global community. Viewed in that light, they are thus not dissidents, but representatives of the main lines of development in today’s world.

Liu also writes, "An enormous transformation towards pluralism in society has already taken place, and official authority is no longer able to fully control the whole society." However strong the power of the regime may appear to be, every single individual must do his best to live, in his words, "an honest life with dignity."

Therefore: while others at this time are counting their money, focusing exclusively on their short-term national interests, or remaining indifferent, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has once again chosen to support those who fight – for us all.

- Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony Speech 2010

Freedom and Faithfulness

现在大陆的全无信誉的道德混乱状态和文革时期全无任何自律的打砸抢造反行为，其内在精神乃一脉相承。我们习惯了说谎、背叛、仇恨和暴虐，习惯了一切皆由领袖、党和国家负责的生存方式，诚信、爱、同情和个人责任感便无从谈起。换言之，独裁政治培育仇恨和阴谋，鼓励说谎和无耻，造就懦弱和暴虐，纵容无赖和狂妄，养成自私和无责任感。

- 刘晓波 《自由和诚信》

Mainland China's current moral crisis and creditlessness is imbued with Cultural Revolution's beating, smashing and looting acts of rebellion without any discipline. We become used to telling lies, betrayal, hatred and violence, used to that the leader, party and State are responsible for everything, then impossible to talk about Faith, Love, Compassion and Individual's responsibility. In other words, dictatorship fosters hatred and conspiracy, encourages lying and shamelessness, produces cowardice and brutality, connives rascality and hubris, develops selfishness and no responsibility.

- Liu Xiaobo, Freedom and Faithfulness

The Hardest Lessons of the 20th Century

二十世纪的最沉重教训, 并非极权主义的兴起，而是自由国家没能阻止极权主义的迅速扩张与长期存在。享受着自由生活的西方左派名流们的误导世界舆论，把集权东方视为人类的未来，而把自由西方视为邪恶的象征，致使自由同盟对集权同盟的斗争变得步履蹒跚。

- 刘晓波

The Heaviest Lessons of the 20th Century, is not the rise of totalitarianism, but free States failed to prevent the rapid expansion and long existence of totalitarianism. Western leftists celebrities enjoying a free life have misled the public opinion by advocating East Totalitarianism should be regarded as future of humanity, while liberal West as a symbol of evil, as a result, Liberty Alliance becomes hobbling to fight Totalitarian Alliance.

- Liu Xiaobo