Buy One, Earn More (2024)
Artist Statement
In a capitalist society, Worker wakes up with her hands and feet bound in toy packaging, while Showhost sells her in TV ads. "Buy One, Earn More" is a retro-style 3D animation satirizing the priority of money over human value.
The title "Buy One, Earn More" is derived from a line spoken by Showhost, suggesting that capitalists can purchase one Worker product and exploit their labor to earn more profit.
I chose this topic because I became interested in what human values are in a capitalist society. In situations such as unfair contracts, a tendency to prioritize money over people, and job displacement due to AI, I have been struck by the impression that human value is dictated by money. I felt that a life spent working for money resembles being a cog in a machine fitted for society's needs. Thus, I wanted to discuss the value of a human being in a capitalist society.
The lively essence of retro aesthetics merges with the eerie atmosphere that comes from selling humans, emphasizing Showhost's audacity and enhancing the satirical tone. I established the retro vibe using sound, color, and props, drawing references from vintage TV ads of the 1940s-1990s, and analyzing features such as noise, glare, blur, and low-quality audio. I mainly used the 3D software MAYA, and others such as Substance Painter, After Effects, ElevenLabs, and Adobe Audition.