The A-Symmetrical Imperialistic Data Server

The panels collectively form a “data server,” but one that is slow and fragile, contrasting the speed of real digital technologies. The visual motifs are based on the binary system (the zeros and ones of computing) and ocean waves, which are also used to cool actual server farms. Although the work does not directly use photography or lens-based media, it explores the physical and visual infrastructures underlying our digital image culture. By choosing silk—a material traditionally associated with femininity and time-consuming craftsmanship—Chang critiques the industrial pace and highlights the unequal global distribution of energy and resources. The work reflects asymmetrical power relations linking internet users and environmental sites often worlds apart.