In our digital society, algorithms confine us within bubbles of biased information, with supermassive systems analyzing us to a degree surpassing self-awareness. Amid the endless flow of information generated by algorithms, our hearts and minds are no longer free, denying us the opportunity for introspection. The 2024 ACC Fantastic Theater production, “The Gobi,” offers a radical escape from this digital realm into a primal, drastic natural environment where we can wholly face ourselves in ACC’s Theater 1. The term “Gobi” refers to the harsh Gobi Desert; in Mongolian, “Gobi” (Говь) translates to “wasteland.” Though it is nothing but a wordplay in Korean, “gobi” also signifies a moment of profound resistance. In “The Gobi,” participants examine themselves like pilgrims in a desert, in an environment devoid of external stimuli, much like the space of isolation that the theater offers from one’s routine. Within this isolation, we discover solace and freedom; under the vast night sky, we find the solitude and epiphany inherent to humanity. Freed from the constraints of algorithms, our senses are finally attuned to the depths of our own hearts.

This program allows participants to discuss the direction and creation process with the director. They can also experience the laser, video, and sound technologies used on stage.

ACC’s Stage Technology team consists of leading experts in stage technology, providing performance design, production, and operating work for performances held in ACC Theaters, which guarantees the ACC’s role as an open theater for artists and citizens.