MURPHY NILEZILING ZHOU
Murphy Nile (Ziling Zhou) is a transmedia artist with an MA in Computational Arts from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a BA in Technoetic Arts from Roy Ascott Studio. His practice combines simulated 3D narrative environments with interactive audiovisual experiences, focusing on attention choreography and screen-based spatial dramaturgy.
Through dystopian yet absurd digital landscapes, he explores predictive logic, techno-fantasy, and the reinterpretation of history, reflecting on how alienation is built into technology-driven societies.
His research and creative writing have been presented at ISEA (Dubai), and he has spoken at Unreal Fest (Shanghai), sustaining a dialogue between art theory, real-time engine practice, and artistic research.
He was selected as a finalist for the Lumen Prize 2025 Experiential Award and was nominated for the UNESCO City of Media Arts Award at the IDIF Film Festival in Karlsruhe. His work has been exhibited and screened at venues and events including the Milan Machinima Festival (Milan), SUPERBOOTH 24 (Berlin), Galerie Met (Berlin), Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall (Shanghai), West Bund Museum (Shanghai), and UFO Terminal (Shanghai).
Education
MA in Computational Arts, Department of Computing, Goldsmiths, University of London
BFA in Technoetic Arts (Art and Technology), Roy Ascott - Technoetic Arts Studio, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
- 2025Finalist for the Lumen Prize 2025 (Experiential Award) with the project “CONTROL CLUB”
- 2024Nominee for the UNESCO City of Media Arts Award with the film “CONTROL”
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
- 2026Coastal Co-Art, College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- 2026FORCED LOADING, made Terminal 2, Hangzhou, China
- 2026Symbiosis Protocols, GWANTSI Gallery, Shanghai, China
- 2025LOADING…ACCESS 3, UFO Terminal, Shanghai, China
- 2024SUPERBOOTH 24 Electronic Music Instrument Festival, Berlin, Germany
- 2024Evolutionary, SOME SPACE Gallery, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- 2024Goldsmiths Computational Arts Degree Show, Church Hall, St.James's, London, UK
- 2023De-Elemental, Galerie Met, Berlin, Germany
- 2023On Operation, Jishu Hall, Hangzhou, China
SCREENING AND PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS
- 2026WAVES CROSS Vol. 3 - Light Sampling, Cedar Land, Shanghai
- 2026Milan Machinima Festival (MMF), IULM University, Milan, Italy
- 2025Independent Days International Film Festival (IDIF), Schauburg Filmtheater, Karlsruhe, Germany
- 2024Video Art & Experimental Film Festival(VAEFF), Cinema Village, New York, USA
- 2023Technoetic Concert - From the Canyons to the Stars, Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall, Shanghai, China
- 2022Flowing Light 1st International Light Art Show Festival, Chongqing, China
- 20212^6 Technoetic Arts Exhibition - Audio Visual Live Performance, West Bund Museum, Shanghai, China
TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS
- 2026Speaker, ISEA 2026, Dubai, UAE
- 2025Speaker, Unreal Fest 2025 (Epic Games), Shanghai, China
SELECTED PRESS
- 2026 Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art, Interview feature on Murphy Nile (Ziling Zhou)
- Lumen Prize 2025 - CONTROL CLUB - Murphy Nile
- Milan Machinima Festival, Interview feature on Murphy Nile - Control: The Uptime Protocol
RESIDENCIES
- 2026Coastal Co-Art residency supported by PAN Shanghai & ImaginationLancaster, Shanghai, CN & Lancaster, UK