We were lucky to catch up with Vesper Guo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Vesper, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

[nonplace.site](http://nonplace.site) is a long-term project that holds a special significance for me on multiple levels. Commencing as my thesis project earlier this year, nonplace.site served as an online public space modeled after the file system found in a personal MacOS computer. Retaining its original form, the website has recently transformed into an online exhibition, serving as a pavilion for The Wrong Biennale. This exhibition will be available for viewing from November 1st, 2023, through March 31st, 2024.

The project’s inception was rooted in the disorientation and uncanniness experienced when confronting a plethora of old files on a personal computer – a feeling many of us can relate to today. These distant files are often improperly named and categorized, with some lacking clear context, appearing unfamiliar. Simultaneously, the uniform file system interface homogenizes the appearance of all memory containers and anchors, creating a digital labyrinth that blurs the line between personal and impersonal. This rendering transforms one’s personal space into something almost impersonal, akin to a nonplace. The term “nonplace” denotes generic, transient, and interchangeable spaces that lack the identity and history typically associated with traditional places, failing to cultivate a sense of belonging. The internet embodies the essence of a nonplace, characterized by constant transitions from site to site, page to page, and shifts in role and identity.

I recognized an intriguing overlap between the private space (the “local” system and “home” directory) and the public web, facilitated by the agency of a personal computer, all on the shared foundation of “nonplace-ness.” This fascinated me, particularly regarding the blurred and fluid boundary between the personal and impersonal, to which our intuitive understanding has adapted and assimilated through the default interface.

Inspired by this, I conceived the idea of creating a public website that mirrors the default appearance of a personal computer’s file system, evoking a sense of familiarity, while the content within seems detached from personal memory. The addition of the “.site” suffix not only signifies the website’s top-level domain but also conveys a sense of belonging, contrasting with the typical lack of anchoring in a nonplace. By appending “.site” to “nonplace,” this online space embraces the fluidity between self and others, inviting exploration of memory and belongingness.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Vesper Guo, an artist currently based in Brooklyn, New York. My work delves into the narrative potential inherent in the agency of the internet and web browsers, fueled by my fascination with the dynamics that unfold between the perspectives on both sides of a screen. Through the mediums of moving images, net art, and projections, I investigate this dialogical relationship within the realm of intangible pixels.

My art takes various approaches to the first-person perspective, integrating viewers as strangers within the pieces themselves. This approach allows us to collectively explore the allure of the eternal stranger-relationship we all share.

I received my BFA from the Department of Film, Video, New Media, and Animation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2020, and subsequently completed my MPS from the Interactive Telecommunication Program at New York University in 2023.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It must be the balance between artistry and functionality. Creating a public website entails giving the control to a vast and diverse audience, which renders the interactive component of the website potentially vulnerable. This marks a departure from my previous art practice, where a logical and experimental approach to conveying concepts held more significance than the technical aspects. Crucially, in those instances, measures were in place to restrict the impact of viewers’ input on the work’s performance.

However, in the case of an interactive piece, even a minor functional flaw can significantly affect the overall experience, directly influencing the delivery of the intended concept. While in individual projects, performance inefficiencies can be rectified to align with the desired expression, the [nonplace.site](http://nonplace.site/) serves as a collective space rather than a concept-focused art experiment. Consequently, it no longer caters solely to my personal subjectivity, obligating me to create a space that is accessible and open to all.

Balancing the interplay of art, design, and technology is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor, particularly in the realm of contemporary art. It promises to be an ongoing journey of learning and growth!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It must have been the community! I feel blessed to have known and to be surrounded by so many creative minds, each accentuated by colorful personalities. I don’t believe it’s necessarily the pursuit of art as an objective that makes the community so vibrant, but rather that everyone is engaging in activities they genuinely love and care about, expressing themselves through a personal language that reveals their true selves. The shared journey of creating art fosters an atmosphere of honesty and passion in our self-expression, and I thoroughly relish this mutually nurturing effect. This is how I met and invite my friend Yan Shao onboard to co-curate of the exhibition version of [nonplace.site](http://nonplace.site)!

Moreover, rather than focusing on the moment of glory when an artist presents their work, what I value the most is the preceding effort, struggle, and practice. For me, this process of creation is an integral part of any artwork. Therefore, being a witness to other artists’ practices provides me with the opportunity to better understand and appreciate not only the art itself but also the creator behind it. This connection is profoundly beautiful!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://guoyingzi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blinkingcaret/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yingziguo000vesper/
• Other: Link to the exhibition: https://nonplace.site/

Image credits to participating artists in the exhibition: Cameron Alexander & Vidya Giri & Vesper Guo & Sylvia Ke & Michelle Letheris & Peixuan Ouyang & Yan Shao & Jingyao Shao & Kristopher Yizhen Shi & Jo Suk & Masha Vlasova & Sam Zanowski