Liu Dao 六岛 (pinyin: Liù dǎo) or Island6 is a Shanghai-based art collective of tech-geeks and creative talents driven by innovation and interaction. The collective produces cutting-edge art that constantly contemplates the future of Asia, engages sights and scenes from old and new China, and elevates the skills of new talents by working from a communal forum. Liu Dao's art is visual, interactive, conceptual, humorous, and somber - but always striking, always involving fresh takes on modern technology, and always the product of collaboration. Since Liu Dao's beginning, painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, new media artists, software and digital imaging artists, dancers, writers, engineers, and curators have worked together to produce original, intriguing shows. The collective has ranged from 6 to 26 people since its inception in 2006. island6 often features guest directors, performers, and curators for individual artworks or special exhibitions, allowing an international and cross-cultural foundation for original ideas to be born from many sources of input rather than one. The island6 art collective (Liu Dao 六岛) has appeared in acclaimed art fairs around the world, including Art Paris, KIAF Seoul, the Hong Kong Art Fair, SHContemporary, Scope New York, Miami & Basel, Art Stage Singapore, Art Dubai, Contemporary Istanbul, KIAF Seoul, and many more… PHILOSOPHY The spirit and purpose behind all Liu Dao artworks, literary contributions, and exhibitions is collaboration. The group places emphasis on interaction in order to engage artists, curators and technicians in the process of creating and experiencing art focusing on collective rather than individual values, with the direct aim of benefiting a young Chinese contemporary art scene promotionally and creatively. An appealing comparison is to the film industry: the island6 gallery acts as the producer for the artists (actors), curators (film directors), while utilizing the skills of cameramen, set designers, choreographers, scenographers, and writers. The digital artworks produced by island6 also use post-production editors, such as Affect Effect experts or sound designers. Each artwork and exhibition has a cast with credits for people of different skills. PRODUCTION PROCESS The art collective is sponsored by island6 Arts Center, an art gallery and production studio in Shanghai’s Moganshan Road art district, M50. The Arts Center provides all materials and hires the necessary skilled labor or technicians to assist art production. At island6, all the work exhibited is made on site and specifically for the theme of a trimestral show. The collective works on a flexible open platform process that ensures all artworks are the result of synergetic thought between multiple collaborators. Brainstorming takes place in the form of conversation, written statements, spontaneous film shoots, and experimentation with prototypes. After curators conceptualize a theme, the artists create pieces specific to the theme of the exhibition. Through this close collaborative process there is an ongoing dialogue between curator, art director and artist. PEOPLE The island6 team consists of artists, art directors, curators and guest curators as well as a technical team. When the collective is not making art, each individual helps in running the exhibition space. The collective regularly invites performers and guest curators to come onboard for individual artworks or themed shows. The collective has ranged from 6 to 26 people since its inception in 2006.