New York, NY: CHAPTER_, a collaborative project by artists Tianyi Sun and Fiel Guhit, takes audiences on a profound journey that explores the intricate interconnectivity of generativity, technology, and human experience. With their use of installation and live performance Sun and Guhit challenge conventional concepts of narrative and invite viewers to introspectively examine their own place within a rapidly evolving digital world.
At the core of CHAPTER_ lies an interactive installation that seamlessly integrates image recognition, image-to-text generation, and voice reproduction. This multi-layered system intricately weaves together a symphony of voices and sonic fragments, defying the limitations of traditional language and inviting us to ponder the essence of our material existence. Through navigating the delicate relationship between language, technology, and reality, the project transcends the boundaries of traditional expression and stimulates a captivating dialogue between human creativity and generative technologies.
What sets CHAPTER_ apart is its engagement of viewers through a series of live performances that respond to the installation in real-time. These performances, the most recent chapter, FROM_LISTENERS performance as part of The Segue Reading Series at Artists Space in New York City, immerse the audience in a mesmerizing symphony of sounds and voices. Lasting approximately 40 minutes, the performance becomes a transformative experience as Tianyi Sun takes center stage, animating the archive through a series of improvised readings alongside an AI trained in her voice and likeness. Her presence challenges our conventional understanding of machine learning algorithms, prompting us to critically examine the limitations of predetermined narratives and the potential for alternative futures.
Tianyi Sun is an influential and boundary-breaking artist based in New York City. Her exploration of digital interfaces, archival systems, imaging technologies, and human narratives reveals a masterful understanding of the power dynamics embedded within emerging technologies. Sun fearlessly merges traditional mediums like painting and sculpture with cutting-edge advancements in machine learning and human data. Through staging responsive environments, she critically navigates the fine line between oppression and solace, prompting us to question the impact of these systems on our individual and collective experiences. She holds a master’s degree in fine arts from Parsons, The New School in New York, and her works have been exhibited at esteemed institutions including Artists Space (NY), Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LA), Sheila C. Johnson Design Center (NY), among many others, solidifying her status as an artistic force to be reckoned with.
Fiel Guhit, is an artist and software engineer from Honolulu, Hawaii, and is currently based in New York City. Graduating from the University of California, Irvine, with a B.S. in Informatics specializing in Human-Computer Interaction, and a Master of Fine Arts from Parsons, The New School, Guhit's exploration of how the body interfaces with technology has profoundly influenced his artistic inquiries. Employing software, installation, and performance, Guhit's process-based practice raises essential questions about our relationship with technology. His works have been exhibited at renowned venues such as Artists Space in New York City and 99 Canal.
Though Sun and Guhit maintain distinct points of departure, their practices converge in the investigation of contemporary networked systems and hegemonic structures that often underlie generative technologies. By deliberately disrupting the frictionless digital experiences prevalent in our modern world, Sun and Guhit challenge preconceived notions and provoke us to explore the unexpected. Their work dismantles conventional associations with technology, invoking moments of pause and play that defy expectations. Through alternate forms of technology, they facilitate an invitation to reorient and reconfigure perceptions of connection, time, and reality.
The brilliance of CHAPTER_ lies in its ability to blur the boundaries between disciplines. Through a delicate interweaving of sculpture, sound, performance, and machine learning, Sun and Guhit create immersive and interactive works that speak directly to our contemporary human experience. Their emphasis on softness and blurriness within the digital realm challenges entrenched perceptions and opens doors to new modes of understanding. In this exploration of the relationship between language, technology, and human agency, CHAPTER_ presents a profound narrative that compels viewers to contemplate the complexity of generativity in an era where the past is inextricably entangled with our aspirations for the future.
By challenging conventional narratives and encouraging introspection, Tianyi Sun and Fiel Guhit invite us to critically examine our role as active participants in shaping the trajectory of our existence. CHAPTER_ offers a glimpse into the possibilities that arise when artists push the boundaries of art and technology, encouraging us to reevaluate our relationship with the digital world and consider the transformative potential that lies within alternative narratives.
The Segue Reading Series, where the performance FROM_LISTENERS unfolded, is an integral part of the Segue Foundation. Established in 1976 by poet James Sherry, this non-profit 501(c)(3) arts organization has been a steadfast supporter of the contemporary avant-garde, acting as a platform for the Language poetry movement in the late 1970s and early 80s.
Artists Space, founded in 1972 in downtown Manhattan, plays a pivotal role in nurturing the artistic and cultural life of New York City. It serves as a primary venue for artists of all disciplines, embracing emerging ideas and creators. With a deep commitment to the social and intellectual concerns that shape artistic practice, Artists Space strives to facilitate exemplary conditions for the production, experience, and comprehension of art. It acts as a catalyst for critical discourse and education, advocating for the transformative power of art in defining and reflecting our understanding of ourselves.
As CHAPTER_ continues to unfold, artists Tianyi Sun and Fiel Guhit invite us to contemplate the complexities of generativity in an age where the past intertwines with our aspirations for the future. Their collaborative project challenges our preconceived notions, urging us to scrutinize the narratives we create and consider how they shape the trajectory of our existence. Through their innovative exploration of art, technology, and human agency, CHAPTER_ offers a glimpse into the delicate dance between the past, present, and the potential futures that lie ahead.
