Asia Art Center (Taipei) is delighted to announce The Psychopathology of Everyday Life—Chang Tengyuan's first solo exhibition at the gallery—running from February 15 to April 6, 2025. Inspired by Sigmund Freud's (1856–1939) renowned work of the same title discussing unconscious “parapraxis” in daily life, Chang incorporates the recurring character in his practice, “Parrotman,” into some of the 28 featured artworks. Through a collection of paintings, sculptures, and animated video installations, the exhibition investigates collective consciousness in contemporary society and reflects on humanity's drifts between the virtual and real worlds.

The Beginning of the Mysterious Events, the opening painting of the exhibition, depicts a mysterious scene of multiple entities floating weightlessly in the air without any apparent cause. This surrealist imagery serves as a metaphor for the mental predicaments of contemporary times. As social media and the online world continue to reshape our minds, it often feels as though we are trapped in “a dream within a dream,” believing we can freely navigate between virtual worlds and reality. In truth, however, we may simply be adrift, even taking pleasure, in a journey through multiple universes of dreams. On the other hand, the 2-piece painting Earth Attack! Trump the Parrot and Earth Attack! Harris the Parrot pays homage to the film, Mars Attack! By reimagining Trump and Harris as Parrotmen, Chang examines how cultural symbols subtly influence people's values and behavioral patterns. His use of humor and sarcasm not only challenges the audience's preconceptions of power and collective consciousness but also analyzes the significant impact of popular culture on humanity's worldview. In this context, we all seem to become unwitting participants in a large-scale experiment of cultural hypnosis, where shared imaginations and beliefs are received and transmitted without conscious awareness.

Dream Optometry, an animated video installation presented in an independent room, addresses the contemporary trance-like state of aimless wandering through layered realms of reality and virtuality. In real life, our bodies move freely while our rationality confines us; in dreams, our bodies remain still in beds while our minds enjoy ultimate freedom—to soar, venture into the sky, and feel invincible. The artist interprets the concept of floating as a profound reflection on contemporary life, encouraging the audience to consider: when floating becomes the norm, how does it transform our perceptions of reality? Rather than searching for “ways to ground ourselves,” perhaps the focus should be discovering “reasons to float” and “ways to keep floating.” Chang's artworks act as mirrors that gradually reveal nuanced layers of meaning. In this open space for contemplation, answers are not rushed. As you engage, you may find yourself arriving at the third level of dreams, in which another optometric lens offers access to an entirely new perspective. Here, each lens represents a fresh way of seeing the world; every shift between focus and blur becomes an essential part of the journey. This oscillation between clarity and obscurity may be the most delicate way to engage with the world.

The Psychopathology of Everyday Life playfully illustrates the subtle influence of cultural symbols on human behaviors, meanwhile delving deep into the exploration of collective actions and mental states in contemporary society. Through Chang's artworks, viewers are drawn into a whimsical world, prompted to reflect on current cultural phenomena and reconsider humanity's condition within a shifting landscape where boundaries between reality and virtuality become increasingly blurred.