ACMI to host Long March: Restart, an artwork combining video games and Chinese history

July 17, 2026 - 15:57

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) will host a new interactive artwork titled Long March: Restart starting in August. Described as a playful experience, the piece merges elements of video game design with historical narratives from China.

Created by artist Feng Mengbo, the work reimagines the famous Long March, a pivotal military maneuver by the Chinese Red Army in the 1930s. Rather than a traditional documentary or historical simulation, the installation uses a retro video game aesthetic. Visitors will engage with the piece through a controller, navigating a pixelated landscape that references key moments from the march.

The artwork is not meant to be a strict historical lesson. Instead, it invites players to explore how digital media can reshape historical memory. The game-like format allows for a more personal and interactive encounter with the past, moving beyond passive observation.

Feng Mengbo is known for blending pop culture, technology, and history. His previous works have used arcade games, platformers, and other gaming genres to comment on modern life and historical events. Long March: Restart continues this approach, using the language of video games to create a bridge between a specific historical event and contemporary digital culture.

ACMI has positioned the exhibition as part of its ongoing commitment to showcasing the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling. The installation will be on view for several months, offering visitors a chance to step into a game world that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.