On view at K11 MUSEA, Cheng Ran’s Always I Trust is a video work inspired by a spam email sent to him: the computer-generated message embodies a sense of human touch with a bunch of slang terms and spelling mistakes, interspersed by remarks about memory and future. It is as if a young woman is addressing her yearnings to the artist, and as if someone is writing a poem to the future. Starring acclaimed actress Carina Lau and displaying Cheng’s compelling cinematography, Always I Trust illustrates the emotional and social isolation experienced by city dwellers. The beautiful visuals and mise-en-scène drop hints about sentimental beauty – the false hopes that we have now and then.
