All Under Heaven Video

Rick Farin’s new short film in collaboration with Xander Zhou, All Under Heaven, presents us with a cast of digital beings, all somewhere between human and nonhuman in varying degrees, occupying vast post-industrial landscapes, just “living out their lives.” From bio-machinery enhanced humans to hyper-futuristic AI robots, Farin’s characters represent “an awe-inspiring infinity of diversity” in this harsh but livable world – a testament to the “incredible resilience of life.”

Living lives that are at the same time ordinary and fantastical, these humaniods work in heavily mechanised, hydroponic agriculture; use 3D scanning “eyes” for archaeological research; fly futuristic kites in a trash-scattered orange wasteland (while wearing Zhou’s AW19 fursuits); all in delightful dissonance to the cold advancement of the interior world. Farin presents us with an aquatic humanoid surgeon operating on a robot, and they’re in love – it’s the perfect example of the everyday lives of the post-human beings of our potential future.  

Alongside the visuals is a stunning soundtrack comprised of original work from electronic artists Shayu and City, and PC Music’s Umru, lending the film an ominous darkness, whilst moving it between the stark extremes of the tender and personal and the vast and overwhelming realities of Farin’s post-human world.

Designer: Xander Zhou
Director: Rick Farin
Art Assistance: Claire Cochran, Echo Seireeni
Narration: Case Miller
Sound mixed and mastered by Theo Karon
Music By Shayu, City and Umru
Special thx to Nick Vernet, Andrew Thomas Huang
Isamaya Ffrench & Katja Farin
Graphic artworks by Patrick Müller And Marie Lautsch