Hua Chai

Hua Chai is a Lecturer in the Department of Design Media Arts at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), part of the School of the Arts and Architecture. They are an experimental media artist exploring intersections between internet phenomena, queer identity, and socio-political dynamics through interactive digital projects and artistic research. Their work frequently employs experimental games, websites, and video/animation to critique contemporary digital cultures.

Education:

• MFA in Media Arts, UCLA (2024)

Research Interests:

• Queer digital practices and virtuality
• Fandom cultures as transgressive spaces
• Archival preservation of digital artifacts
• Identity formation in online communities

Their projects such as Queer Degenerates 4ever and S/F/Wønderland critically examine homonationalism and state censorship, while /Spore-Archive investigates digital preservation strategies.

Labs/Initiatives:

• UCLA Game Lab