Reflective Encounters

“The titular Impossible Figures probably refer to the dystopian landscapes sketched out here, which are possessed by an unthinkable sadness that few can truly grasp. But it can very well refer to the technical feat on display, rendering a 2D world with the boundless depth typically affronted to CG. What we witness is the comprehensive decay of a society through compressed time. Figures rapidly materialise within the void, starting with a big bang of filth and dust, shaping debris into human forms, giving way to empty concrete structures and hostile urban uniformity. It’s an intoxicating kaleidoscope of destruction.

What’s left are two elderly beings who exist to wander and bemoan our poor choices, reminiscing on the forgotten wonders of human touch, depicted here as a symphony of interlinked bodies being forced to compensate with lifeless mannequins. The phrase “When will we ever learn?” is repeated ad nauseam and it becomes fitting to view this through the lens of climate anxiety. After all, the anthropocene has ensured that urban developments have efficiently destroyed the natural world. As the woman becomes consumed by water, it is as if nature is taking its final revenge. We are only left to ponder our unrepentant hubris.”

— Matthew Chan