Working at the intersection of cinema and videogames, artist Alan Kwan creates immersive experiences that evoke feelings of heartbreak, fear, and the sublime. His practice centers on experimental videogames and VR installations that challenge traditional gaming paradigms and the typical technological fantasies associated with VR and AR. Rather than simulating external reality, Kwan crafts psychological spaces within 3D virtual worlds — evocative, introspective environments that invite players and viewers to wander, daydream, and reflect.

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In June 2025, he premiered his latest videogame, Scent (link), at Tribeca Festival in New York and Animafest Zagreb. An earlier iteration of the project received an Honorary Mention Award at Prix Ars Electronica. In 2023–2024, he initiated and led the development of The Eyes (link), a VR cinematic experience created in collaboration with Kachi Chan, which was showcased at SXSW Sydney. His previous game, Forgetter (link), co-directed with Allison Yang in collaboration with DSLCOLLECTION (Paris), won the Excellence in Innovation Award at the 2021 indiePlay China Indie Game Awards, as well as the Best Serious Game Award and an Honorary Mention Award at the GWB Game Awards. His earlier game, The Hallway (link), was also acquired by the M+ Museum in Hong Kong as part of its permanent collection. 

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Kwan's projects have been exhibited internationally at venues including Ars Electronica Center (Austria), ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (Germany), International Bauhaus Colloquium (Germany), Forum des images (France), Science Gallery Dublin (Ireland), Nam June Paik Art Museum (Korea), Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai (China), M+ Museum (Hong Kong), and Pearl Lam Galleries (Hong Kong), among others. His work has been featured in media outlets such as the Discovery Channel, Popular Science, and The Boston Globe. 

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Originally from Hong Kong, Kwan earned his master’s degree at MIT and is currently based in Chicago, where he is an assistant professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.