When mentioning Backrooms or liminal spaces, we might picture dull yellow hallways that feel oppressive or old American-style shopping malls from the 2000s. These spaces are all built from memories of the past, mostly Western ones. But what if the liminal space, a pop culture phenomenon of today, was constructed from Asian memories instead? Upon reflection, Asian-themed liminal spaces are rarely seen.
The familiar scent of old carpet might be replaced by a faint incense aroma. The buzzing fluorescent lights could be swapped for neon signs in Chinese characters, and the corridor might stretch toward an empty Chinese banquet table.
This is the atmosphere created in the AI-generated image series 'Enter the Jade Palace…' by Efe Levent, which depicts residences densely imbued with Chinese elements. It echoes the imagery of Western liminal space shopping malls but is rich with details reminiscent of Chinese temples or Chinatowns, transforming into a jade palace within a dreamlike realm.
Although created by AI, the images are intriguing because they offer space for Asian culture within Western pop culture.
Asian identity itself could be considered a form of liminal space.
In Western pop culture, places like Chinatown, old Chinese restaurants, or fresh markets are often viewed as exotic rather than aesthetic. Narrow alleys serve as backdrops for underground crime worlds where Western protagonists encounter unfamiliar experiences. Thus, Asian culture often exists in an ambiguous state—vivid in imagination but inaccessible to many—feeling familiar yet lonely, embodying the essence of liminal space.
Meanwhile, reinterpreting the alienation of Asian identity by infusing vibrant nostalgia can reflect the mindset of immigrant communities recreating ‘home’ abroad. This results in strange architectures that feel familiar yet unseen.
Ultimately, blending Asian identity with liminal space aesthetics provides both a new artistic sensibility and cultural representation of Asia in the West. This fusion creates fresh feelings and reflects the longing for roots portrayed through fantasy worlds crafted by technology.
References:
https://radii.co/article/cityhermitai-liminal-jade-palace-ai-art