ISLE OF INSTABILITY

Cao Fei's Isle of Instability (2020) is a multimedia work commissioned by Audemars Piguet Contemporary, that premiered at West Bund Art & Design in November 2020, documenting Cao Fei's personal experience of living under lockdown during the COVID-19 outbreak. Created in Singapore—far from her home, studio, and daily life in Beijing—the artwork reflects the isolation and emotional toll of the pandemic. With her daughter serving as both assistant and actor, Cao Fei explores the psychological and physical impact of confinement on herself and her family. The film also offered a moment of solace to the public, inviting conversation about shared global experiences and the ways in which humanity navigates uncertainty.

Audemars Piguet Contemporary had been working with Cao Fei on a new commissioned artwork long before the pandemic. In October 2019, she travelled to Le Brassus, Switzerland, the home of the brand, to finalise plans for the piece. However, as COVID-19 cases surged, she and her family stranded in Singapore, unable to return to Beijing due to international travel restrictions. In response, Cao Fei and the Audemars Piguet Contemporary team reimagined the commission, shifting its focus to reflect the unprecedented global crisis.